Hoopla to the Abyss...and other fond memories...

Long and Lost....in Kansas City

2009-06-01T21:39:00.005-05:00

This is a long overdue update that I told Rebecca I would do last year. You can see at how well I am being social online as I do not have a Facebook account and I have not posted here since early 2006 if I recall correctly.

Short update (which may turn out long):

I graduated from Iowa State in May 2007 and took a job with the Missouri Department of Transportation as a Highway Designer in the Kansas City district. I've been working here in the disitrict office in Lee's Summit ever since and just got my 2 year government promotion just like clockwork this month. I have worked on several jobs since I started but the area I have worked the most in is the design of roundabouts. Roundabouts are great! I have one that is going to be constructed next summer (probably) out near Warrensburg and I am currently in final design of a second roundabout in Parkville, MO. I am busy working on plan sheets. Roundabouts are relatively new to the state system but we hope to put in more where opportunity knocks.

I am living in Independence renting from some friends of mine from church. Kansas City is the largest congregation of our church and I am really enjoying being able to have so many friends here in this area because of it. Sometimes I am too busy and have to find time to be at home - like tonight taking care of things I should have a year ago. One really nice thing about living here is its central location. It's about three hours from Omaha where I have friends I visit, three hours or so from Mark and Amanda down in Fayetteville, and just under four hours to Oskaloosa where my parents still live. Lisa is a seven hour drive to Wisconsin near the twin cities. She, by the way, has two kids now, Eli and Arrielle.

I just had to purchase a new vehicle so I am the proud owner of a 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac -- not as fuel economical and eco-friendly as Jay's Prius, but none the less, I am happy with it and am enjoying it. My sorry, old beat-up Ranger had had it.

To catch up on some travels of mine, after graduating in 2007, me and a buddy of mine took an 18 day road trip to the northwest where we camped at National and State parks along the way seeing all sorts of beautiful sites. We stayed for about a week in Seattle with my aunt. We caught Theodore Roosevelt, Glacier, North Cascades, Olympic, Craters of the Moon, Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks as well as Battle of the Little Bighorn National Monument, Mount St. Helens, the Space Needle, a Mariner's game, beaches, a rain forest, got a tour of huge Boeing building (my uncle worked there). We took tons of pictures.

The other notable trip was last Fall when I observed the Feast of Tabernacles in New Zealand. Me and my travelmates flew into Auckland and spent the Feast in Tuapo in the middle of the North Island. After the Feast, we went down to the South Island and toured around the West Coast. We went up to Franz Joseph Glacier and spent a day ice climbing. We also saw Queenstown billed as the Adventure Capital of the World, took a tour of Lord of the Rings film sights. We also saw just a bit of Christchurch before we came home. It was a great, great trip.

Unfortunately, I won't be making it to the 10 year reunion. June and July are going to be busy months for me. The 100th Wilson family reunion is in August at the Honey Creek resort near Lake Rathbun, IA. Then in early October all my family and I will be in Barbados keeping the Feast this year.

I hope all is going well for everyone. I'll post just a few pictures from my trip if I can. If anyone is traveling through Kansas City and wants to see me let me know. Email me. It's still the same or you can probably find my email at work on the MoDOT website. We can go get some barbeque or something.

St. Mary's Lake - Glacier National Park

Yellowstone National Park - Near Norris Campgrounds

Rialto Beach - Olympic National Park

Mt. Saint Helens

Ice Climbing in New Zealand

My feet from Mount Maunganui, City of Tauranga below and Pacific Ocean

Sunset over Lake Taupo

Hwy 6 on the South Island next to Lake Hawea

Mount Tasman on the Left, Mt. Cook (highest peak in NZ) on the right

Franz Joseph Glacier, NZ

A haiku about You've got mail

2009-04-09T08:37:00.001-05:00

I've seen it before

Though it was in Seattle

But this was better

My bucket list starts with: Zero-Gravity flight.

2009-03-23T11:32:00.001-05:00

Zero-Gravity flight.
Always wanted to be an astronaut!

Where can I park my Prius?

2009-03-20T08:46:00.001-05:00

Fuel Economy wins!

UPDATED Reunion Schedule!

2009-03-19T08:58:00.001-05:00

All,

Here is the official information regarding the 10 year class reunion.

1) We will "unofficially" start things off Friday night at Friday after Five at the town square in Oskaloosa.

The reunion itself will take place Saturday, June 27th at 7 PM in the basement of Doc Salami's. We have the basement reserved for the whole evening.

2) The menu has been set and I will be sending out this menu to each of you. The cost will be $15 for one person and $30 per couple if paid for by June 1st. After June 1st, the cost will be $17.50 for one person & $35 per couple.

This deadline will give the restaraunt a preliminary headcount so they can be prepared.

3) As far as plans for Saturday afternoon, there are no "official" plans, but I know some people would like to have a potluck-style Family Picnic, while others would like to golf, etc.

I personally will not be planning these Saturday afternoon events, but I would be more than happy to help anyone that does want to plan these events.

4) I am still working on amassing mailing addresses.

If you have not sent me your mailing information, please do so.

I would also like to put information about your family (spouse's name and child(ren)'s name(s)) in a "program" for each of us to have.

I will be updating the addresses that I have, and I will post those people that I do not have addresses for. I ask that if you can help me in any way, please do, because I want EVERY MEMBER of our class to get an invitation.

If anyone has any questions or comments, please feel free to email me.

Thank you.

Eddie Pierson

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21267496258

?

2009-03-18T15:53:00.001-05:00

Anybody still there?

10-Year Reunion

2009-03-05T11:52:00.004-06:00

Anybody going?

Good Morning All,

I have spoke with Joe Flaharty, owner of Doc Salami's in Oskaloosa.
He has reserved Friday, June 26th at 8PM for our Class Reunion.
We will more than likely be in the downstairs part of the restaurant because of the amount of people that I hope attend.
There will be an abbreviated menu, which I am still working on.

The dinner on Friday will be adults only. You are welcome to bring a guest.
I have yet to get a meal price worked out. It should be some time this week.

If enough people are interested, we can have a family picnic on Saturday, but outside of coming up with a time and place, it will not be a structured event.

Anyone that has any ideas or would like input, please feel free to contact me through facebook or email (eddie.pierson@hotmail.com).
I am sorry for anyone that has a conflict with the above date, but it is going to be impossible for any one date to work for everyone.

Thanks,
Eddie

Expecting

2008-06-20T23:07:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone!

As some of you might have found out on Facebook or through the grapevine, my wife, Amanda, and I are expecting our first child this November. To keep things interesting, we will wait till the birth to find out the gender. Currently, our name choices are Abraham Louis and Julia Michele. Amanda shot down most of my history nerd choices: Octavian, Horatio, Charlamegne (sp?), etc. If I'm smarter than I think I am, I will post some pictures of my wife with her expanded belly (Amanda is the red head).

Done!

2008-05-10T09:15:00.002-05:00

I'm finally done with pharmacy school. Now all I need to do is pass my boards and I'll be done with school and studying forever!

Rebecca's Wedding

2008-03-18T10:18:00.002-05:00

Since Rebecca is off honeymooning, I thought I would take the liberty of posting some of her beautiful wedding photos. It was a wonderful wedding, they are a great couple, and I wish them the best of luck in their new life together!!

Rebecca's wedding

2008-03-02T22:27:00.000-06:00

Anyone else heading to Winterset in a couple weeks?

It's a small world

2008-01-14T11:52:00.000-06:00

Saturday I was doing some shopping at the mall and stopped for a coffee at Caribou and who was there to take my drink order??.... Meredith Collman! So that was kind of crazy. Then, I was walking through Von Maur (which is great Iowa nostalgia by itself) and heard the piano player du jour playing "Bohemian Rhapsody" for all the patrons... Strange enough to hear instrumental Queen in a fancy department store, but it also brought back memories of high school and listening to that on the marching band trips...initiated by Mr. Jay Collman of course! So the Collmans were well represented at the Eden Prairie mall this weekend! Nice work! :)

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-17T21:28:00.000-06:00

I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

Hello, world!

2007-11-30T17:22:00.000-06:00

Hey guys. I thought I'd send out the update for those of you who don't have Facebook or don't check it or whatever. Anyway, I'm engaged! Jay and I will be getting married the 15th of March 2008. Yep, the Ides of March. It's our 2-year anniversary of when we started dating, and it's also the first Saturday of my spring break. So, that's the news. I bought a dress last night (in Oskaloosa, if you can believe it...) and we're deep in discussions about caterers, photographers, etc., etc., ad nauseam. I'm trying to keep it as small and low-key as possible, but the moms aren't exactly cooperating. Apparently there are tens of thousands of people who are non-negotiables on the invite list. Ah, well, we'll get it pared back eventually (I hope). Anyway, here's a picture of Jay and me the night we got engaged. He proposed on a bridge in Madison County (although not a covered one, because the one he had in mind was already occupied by a couple making out). We found out later, though, that the bridge where he asked me is called "Lovers' Bridge." Awwwww.

Hey Rebecca

2007-11-25T10:22:00.000-06:00

If you're out there. And since I don't think I have your email address.

I just found out that we're going to be based out of Denver, which means I can finally truly consider going back and getting my MLS since

A) The University of Denver has an ALA accredited program
B) We'll be in one place long enough for me to the degree
and
C) We'll be staying put long enough for me to actually use that degree rather than just constantly being on the job hunt as we move every two years

So I was wondering if I could pick your brain...

For one thing, did you go back full time or part time? Did it take you a year or longer? You specialized in school libraries, didn't you?

I'm just curious. I'm not 100% sure that getting my MLS is the route that I'll go with, but it is definitely a front runner of all of my options.

Bands of the 21st Century

2007-11-17T16:01:00.000-06:00

So this isn't really an update, but I wanted to share this picture with all the band geeks. I went to a marching band competition up here a few weeks ago and got to see a few of the bands we used to see at Valley or Ankeny. This is a picture of Rosemount's traveling trailer....er SEMI! Yes, that is actually a tractor trailer that they bought a few years ago and retrofitted for their marching band equipment. It made me laugh :)

P.S. - I thought they should have won, but Irondale got 1st place. These bands do some crazy stuff these days...

TK Update

2007-11-05T18:54:00.000-06:00

Ever since rotations started in May, time has been flying for me. I am on rotation #7 of 10. This month I'm on the oncology floor at UNMC.

Brian and Maya are doing great. We've been doing as many fun fall things as possible, like one last trip to the zoo, Vala's Pumpkin Patch, Living History Farms Halloween, and trips to local parks. Here are a few pictures from our outings.

I hope everyone else is doing well!

As for me...

2007-10-29T09:06:00.000-05:00

Since I started this by asking, I feel I should say something. But I've really got nothing.

Nothing yet anyway. Soon we'll be moving again, but when exactly and where exactly is still yet to be determined. There are some pretty strong "maybes" but that's all they are. I'd really like to know where we're going to be in the next few months, especially since there is a chance that we could end up somewhere on a more permanent basis and put an end to this moving every two years thing for awhile.

So in the meantime, things are normal for us. And normal for us means we finally know the area well enough to have a big long list of things we want to see and do and (here's the key point) do not have the time to get to everything. Or even half the list. Oh well.

What's Up With Me

2007-10-16T14:10:00.000-05:00

Generally, family, work, church. Ellie is now three, and Levia is four months. Here's a picture of us from last Saturday. We visited a pumpkin patch/apple orchard just north of Iowa City with my parents. So close to seeing the Hawkeyes beat Illinois! It was a fun day nonetheless.

And one more thing...

2007-10-13T09:33:00.000-05:00

A happy belated birthday to Robert!

So...

2007-10-13T09:32:00.000-05:00

Does anyone ever check this anymore?

What's up with everyone?

It's a great day to be an ISU Cyclone

2007-09-17T09:15:00.001-05:00

Bragging rights for one more year!!!

Unreal.

2007-08-02T04:18:00.000-05:00

I'm sure you've all heard about the bridge collapse in Minneapolis by now. I can't believe how much news coverage the event is getting across the nation. The next few weeks and months will be very interesting as the metro adjusts its traffic patterns around the missing bridge. If you're not familiar with the Twin Cities area, this bridge was a major north-south thoroughfare through the cities. MNDot is starting to make accomodations on the surrounding highways and roads to find a place to put all the traffic, but it will be a long time before everything settles down. How long does it take to build an eight-lane, 1/3 mile long bridge....?

Maya's 1st Birthday

2007-06-09T09:41:00.000-05:00

This post is late, due to technical difficulties, but I wanted to share a few pictures from Maya's birthday festivities. She turned one on May 15, 2007.

A New Bundle of Joy!

2007-06-04T21:57:00.000-05:00

Levia Kiersten was born at 12:26 AM on Wednesday, May 30. She weighed 7 lbs. and measured 19 inches long! Both she and my wife Hope are doing very well!

i had a dream

2007-05-02T09:16:00.000-05:00

A dream in which Teresa and I were teammates in a gingerbread castle building contest. After several failed attempts to get the walls to stay upright, we were headed to a very covert meet with a shady character to buy a new gingerbread recipe. We were just about the get the goods when I woke up.

Analyse that.

Finally...

2007-04-25T13:16:00.000-05:00

Okay. So it's been eight years. And I ran into Mike Lester, Justin Ott, Joe Rosendhal (sp?), and Chris something (who was in the class before us) at a Bucs game in Des Moines about a month ago. And I was talking to Chris (I still can't remember his last name), and telling him that I was graduating from college this May and it's been eight years since I graduated high school. So his assumption was that I was getting my doctorate. I had to correct him and tell him I'm just getting my bachelor degree.

And that's the news. I'm graduating...college...finally. I suppose I have already graduated college once before but that was six years ago. So everyone is invited to the party. See the invitation below (the colors for the cover and inside cover were inverted or something for some unknown reason while uploading them - imagine Iowa State colors)

Following graduation, I'll be roadtripping with a friend out to Seattle via Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Washington and back through Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nebraska before I start my job with the Missouri Department of Transportation as a Highway Designer in Lee's Summit in early June.

Now, this isn't getting married or having a baby or anything of such caliber but it is that last graduation party I plan to hold for a long while. You are all invited and welcome to come. I know how busy things are though and a number of you have lives in other places and such things, so I understand if you can not make it. But I will hope to see you there.

DONE!!

2007-04-24T08:34:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I finished my last final exam EVER!! On May 7, I'll start my pharmacy rotations. Then in May 2008 I'll finally be a PharmD.

This is all assuming I passed the damn thing....

Finally...

2007-04-23T23:32:00.001-05:00

Okay. So it's been eight years. And I ran into Mike Lester, Justin Ott, Joe Rosendhal (sp?), and Chris something (who was in the class before us) at a Bucs game in Des Moines about a month ago. And I was talking to Chris (I still can't remember his last name), and telling him that I was graduating from college this May and it's been eight years since I graduated high school. So his assumption was that I was getting my doctorate. I had to correct him and tell him I'm just getting my bachelor degree.

And that's the news. I'm graduating...college...finally. I suppose I have already graduated college once before but that was six years ago. So everyone is invited to the party. See the invitation below.

Following graduation, I'll be roadtripping with a friend out to Seattle via Minnesote, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Washington and back through Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nebraska before I start my job with the Missouri Department of Transportation as a Highway Designer in Lee's Summit.

Now, this isn't getting married or having a baby or anything of such caliber but it is that last graduation party I plan to hold for a long while. If you can make, your presents will be appreciated. However, knowing how busy things are and a number of you have lives in other places and such things, I understand if you can not make it.

So much of the white stuff

2007-03-01T08:16:00.000-06:00

I normally don't complain about the weather in the midwest because I choose to live here and therefore have no right to. That being said, this winter has just been ridiculous. I mean the warmest December I can remember, and now as we speak, a late winter blizzard. I mean, lately we've had some cold and snowy weather but this one is a good one, a real good one! I don't know about the drives you all had to work today, but mine consisted of straining to see more than 20 feet in front of the nose of my car. And that was at a measly 15mph! What a fun region! (I just fear being snowed in. . . at work!!)

i'm back online!

2007-02-23T22:01:00.000-06:00

so it's been a rough couple of weeks. i'm taking 15 hours again this semester, and teaching 5, so i'm pretty busy. 2 weeks ago yesterday, my computer just stopped turning on. i had to send it in to be fixed (luckily, i still had applecare, so it didn't cost me anything). it came back a week ago completely wiped clean - i'd lost everything (luckily, i had backed it up at christmas, so i didn't totally lose everything). the next day, it kept freezing up and i couldn't get anything to work right, so i had to send it in again. i just got it back yesterday, and i've copied my stuff back from my parents' computer, but it's a saga i'd rather not repeat. at any rate, it really proved to me how much i depend on this stupid thing. schoolwork notwithstanding, i was pretty ridiculous.

although i guess i'm glad it was my computer and not my cell phone...i really would have been crazy without that.

these kids and their technology...sheesh.

Answers

2007-02-19T11:22:00.000-06:00

A new post so it's not buried in the comments below...

Lisa Durian is a nurse working at Mahaska Co. Hospital. At least that's as of whenever my mom was there for her surgery...last year? the year before? sometime? I think I was in North Carolina at the time. So somewhere between June 2004 and March 2006.

As for my sisters, Carmen is still at Iowa State, doing the graphic design thing. She is going to Rome for a semester and picking up a minor so she's going to be on the five year plan (currently a junior). Amber finally graduated after deciding she probably couldn't afford another study abroad (Australia and Wales) and has been working for Caterpillar in Peoria, IL for all of three weeks. She's doing the general training thing now, with the ultimate goal of doing technical marketing, whatever that means.

As for me, I'm staying away from MySpace. Sometimes I'd rather not be found.

And a much belated congrats to Jay.

MySpace is amazing...

2007-02-12T09:29:00.001-06:00

Are you all a part of the Oskaloosa High School group on MySpace? I am, and in searching for our fellow alumni who are also on there, I found some interesting stuff! Below are two highlights...

MySpace.com - View Image

2007-02-12T09:29:00.000-06:00

Andrea Bihn married Caleb Birch (sp?) !

MySpace.com - View Image

MySpace.com - View Image

2007-02-12T09:27:00.000-06:00

JD Reed is a big, hairy man!

MySpace.com - View Image

Who???

2007-02-09T17:21:00.000-06:00

So Amanda and I were cleaning up some of our photos including many from a certain trip to Spain back in 1998. It occurred to me as I was looking at them that I had not heard a thing about/from Lisa Durian since High School. It's not that we were close friends or anything, but I found myself wondering what has been going on with her. The question is this then: Have you found yourself wondering that about anyone from High School? And if yes, who?

Coming June 4, 2007...

2007-02-02T12:08:00.000-06:00

Click to enlarge...

stupid

2007-01-24T19:59:00.000-06:00

Seventh graders are stupid. Of course, in all fairness, if you would of asked me after graduating from college to name all the countries in Africa, I probably would have failed too. But if I would have known the test was coming, then I would have studied... probably...

Half birthday

2006-11-15T22:25:00.000-06:00

Perhaps once we're in our twenties we don't celebrate half birthdays anymore, but at six months old, they're pretty exciting!

all the cool kids wear stickers

2006-11-07T12:01:00.000-06:00

I voted.

Did you?

random iowa city sighting...

2006-10-23T20:46:00.000-05:00

so. i was walking across campus today, and guess who i ran into...

if you guessed grant hirl (yeah, right...you didn't guess that!), you're right!

i didn't have much time to talk to him because i was already late to class, but he did have enough time to tell me that he's graduating with his BS (BA?) in political science in december. he said he took a little time off so he could follow the 7 1/2 year plan (has it really been that long???). he's apparently living with his brother luke, who's also graduating in december. so anyway, there's your "random person i'd almost forgotten about" moment for the day.

Ankeny

2006-10-19T00:18:00.000-05:00

Teresa-- How was Ankeny?

Hoopla

2006-10-18T21:40:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I will be in the mighty home town this weekend.
begining early evening on friday for the f-ball game.
then events to be determined
trip terminating sometime sunday early evening.

so if any or all are going to be back too, look me up.

SNOW!!!

2006-10-12T09:53:00.000-05:00

Head to the grocery store to stock up on milk and bread! Close the schools! Drive no faster than 5 mph and yet still manage to slam into the car in front of you!

Oh wait, I'm not in North Carolina any more...

Happy Birthday, Robert!

2006-10-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

In honor of our birthday boy, I think we should all take the day off, go to the nearest bakery and treat ourselves to a big piece of cake.

Have a good one!

Ankeny marching band competition

2006-10-11T17:17:00.000-05:00

Just curious if anyone will be going to Ankeny this weekend? Brian, Maya and I will be going, and it would be great to meet up. Dameon's band (Williamsburg) is playing at 6:34, so we'll definitely be there in time to watch that.

Pumpkin Patch

2006-10-03T22:20:00.000-05:00

Tonight, we went to Vala's Pumpkin Patch with my pharmacy classmates. Its in a small town outside of Omaha, and it has lots of fun fall things to do, such as a hayride, haunted house, and a campfire (which we didn't need, since it was hot!). Maya had a really good time, meeting many new people and walking around outside taking in all of the sights. We even picked out a pumpkin to bring home and carve!

update...

2006-09-26T20:12:00.000-05:00

We have tickets.

Level "E"
Section "M"
Row 20
Seats 16 & 17

Game time still TBA.

Anyone else?

Blimey!

2006-09-13T12:23:00.000-05:00

i know i'm a little late on posting this, but i just wanted to mention the sadness i'm sure you all feel regarding the death of the crocodile hunter. remember when we used to watch that show all the time in hs? i particularly remember jake and mark having fun with the accent (and now mark's had a chance to perfect it while working at outback). too bad he died from something relatively lame - i mean, i wouldn't want to get stabbed through the heart with anything, let alone a poisonous stingray barb, but i might rather be bitten in half by something really impressive - like a crocodile...?

ISU Homecoming?

2006-09-09T11:45:00.000-05:00

Anyone interested?

Brent and I are thinking of heading back to watch the Cyclones get slaughtered (per usual) but being a true Iowa Stater, it's not about winning or losing. 'Cause if it was, it would be far too depressing.

Anyway, if there is any takers, we should arrange something. 21 October. Game time TBA.

advice?

2006-09-08T21:24:00.000-05:00

how do you deal with bratty seventh grade girls?

Warning...

2006-09-03T23:46:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to share something I found this weekend while going through old momentos at my parents house. And give a heads-up to Jay's new wife... Jay gave me a valentine one year with the following message:

To: Irena
From: Jay

Have a Happy Valentine's Day! Now get back in the kitchen and cook me something!!

2006-08-28T07:32:00.000-05:00

trivia for Jay

2006-08-25T08:01:00.000-05:00

Here's something you can incorporate into your wedding this weekend...

In a Russian Orthodox wedding ceremony, the bride and groom are crowned and then race to a white rug. The winner gets to be head of the household. (Maybe you’ll want to wear your running shoes.)

Hope you have a perfect day.

Evite: Reminder for MY WEDDING!

2006-08-24T12:38:00.000-05:00

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Your current reply is Yes

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my new job

2006-08-21T10:03:00.000-05:00

hey guys

it occurred to me after teaching my first class today that i haven't yet shared with you the good news about my job. so here it is:

i was recently (only about 2 weeks ago!) hired to teach 2 sections of "elementary spanish review" at iowa!! this is a TA position that is salaried and also helps me out with my tuition, so it's a really great job for me. i won't be quite as poor as i thought i would be. ;) anyway, i teach class EVERY DAY at 8:30 and 12:30, so i'm sure that'll continue to be exciting. starting tomorrow, it's all spanish all the time (departmental policy). when i told that to my 8:30 class today, i could see the horror spread around the room. they're freaked out! anyway, though, i think it'll be a good time.

otherwise, things are going fine with my new roommate (nicki). it's different living with someone after living by myself for 2 years, but it's sometimes nice to have someone to talk to. and between teaching 2 classes and taking 5, i probably won't have much time to sit around and get annoyed by a roommate anyway!

hope school's starting out well for those who are starting school, and i hope the rest of you make it to labor day...

hasta luego

Snakes on a Plane??

2006-08-21T08:41:00.000-05:00

I'm not up on my pop culture, but even I cannot help hearing about this one. Anyone seen it? And what's the big deal?

From what I can tell with a whole two second worth of research, it seems to be the the next "Army of Darkness," only I'm not sure that in that case there was so much hype before the movie even released.

By the way...

2006-08-18T09:18:00.000-05:00

If anyone's interested, we set up a wedding website. If you want to take a look, it's at http://www.ewedding.com/sites/jayandhope

Oh the joy...

2006-08-18T03:18:00.000-05:00

...of being awake at 3 AM. I can watch such classics as this!

Bring back memories for anyone?

the trouble with working in a library...

2006-08-17T20:13:00.000-05:00

I'm so overwhelmed with options being surrounded by books 20 hours a week that I don't know where to begin.

Read any good books lately?

Just wondering

2006-08-10T09:37:00.000-05:00

Who pushed the self destruct button on the Earth?

To Whom It May Concern:

2006-08-09T12:26:00.001-05:00

I received an RSVP for the wedding, but it didn't say who from (it only had this blog's address). So that I can be excited to see the person in question, will the Real Slim Shady please stand up and be counted? Thanks!

Also, anybody else who wants to come, please let me know!

Love,
Jay

Message about MY WEDDING!

2006-08-04T23:05:00.000-05:00

Message about MY WEDDING!

Hello,

I'm writing to let you know that changes have been made to our upcoming event, MY WEDDING!. Please View the invitation to see the changes.

Thanks,
Jay Collman

VIEW INVITATION

EVITE PARTY TIPS Party Ideas + Themes Find Gift Ideas Cocktail Recipes Easy Planning Tools	EVITE ECARDS

Thank You,
The Evite Team

Jay Collman has sent you an Evite Invitation

2006-08-04T18:29:00.000-05:00

You are invited to MY WEDDING! by Jay Collman.

MY WEDDING!

Hi everyone,

I'm getting married! I'd love to see you there! Please RSVP by Aug. 15 (or sooner!) to let me know if you will attend. Thanks!

Reception will be immediately following the ceremony.

VIEW EVITE INVITATION

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Here's Virgil!

2006-08-04T11:40:00.000-05:00

Yep, same email address. This is a picture of Lisa and Virgil with Trenton when he was about 4 months old.

Lisa Bruxvoort

2006-08-02T13:45:00.000-05:00

Hello all. I just got an email from Lisa (Bruxvoort) Peck-- she and Virgil had another baby! Hannah Grace was born last Monday and she says that Trenton likes her pretty well :)

Caption Contest...

2006-07-28T10:10:00.000-05:00

Going through my photos and just had to share. And why not make a caption contest out of it. Give me your best one.

Prizes (yet to be determined) will be awarded...

Too Hot.

2006-07-28T09:59:00.001-05:00

Smiles!

2006-07-17T18:10:00.000-05:00

my trip to chicago

2006-07-13T17:48:00.000-05:00

as you can see, i had an eventful trip east... it was just after midnight, it was raining, and i hydroplaned, turned 360 degrees, and hit a pole. i was extremely blessed...i wasn't injured at all and was even able to drive my car the rest of the way to chicago after getting it pulled out of the ditch. not bad for my first car accident, eh? let's hope my trip to wisconsin and then home tomorrow is a little less exciting. peace

new address & phone

2006-07-11T00:05:00.000-05:00

hey everyone...

as you may remember, i'm moving to iowa city on (or around) august 1. here's my new address there:

54 westside dr.
iowa city, ia 52246

and i also got a new cell phone today. i'm now "in" the verizon network, so if you're a verizon customer, you can call me for FREE at:

319-321-3029

and my old phone will be turned off sometime this week. i was so annoyed that they weren't able to transfer my number over...something about u.s. cellular having a monopoly on all phone numbers in southeast iowa. weird. anyway, hope everyone's doing ok. i'm off to chicago for the week, then my mom is getting her master's friday in wisconsin so i'll go up there for that. should be a good time.

have a great week!

oh, and if anyone wants to read an incredibly long story about how jay and i "hooked up" you can check out his blog at www.xanga.com/onemanbander. he posted it in 3 different chunks, so you'll have to read from the bottom up. don't feel obligated or anything...it's not for the faint of heart (or those wary of mushy love stories).

So...

2006-07-10T19:00:00.000-05:00

Anyone else think summer is going way too fast??

Happy 4th

2006-07-04T09:42:00.000-05:00

Father's Day

2006-06-18T10:34:00.000-05:00

In honor of Father's Day, I thought I'd post one of my favorite pictures of Brian and Maya.

2006-06-15T06:19:00.000-05:00

Birthday cake calories never count. Enjoy!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TERESA!

A Friendly Reminder...

2006-06-13T05:17:00.000-05:00

Time to go purchase hideous ties...it's Father's Day this weekend!

indecisive

2006-06-05T21:20:00.000-05:00

A wallpaper I stumbled upon.

Classier than a magic 8 ball, but still the same effect.

This Weekend

2006-05-26T12:14:00.000-05:00

I'll be in Oskaloosa on Sunday to attend the high school graduation ceremony (my little brother Kyle - I can't believe it!). I'll be in town all night for his subsquent graduation party at the Wm. Penn Student Center, and leave sometime Monday. If anyone else is going to be in town feel free to give me a call or stop by! You can meet my future daughter!

I wanted to share some pictures too.

2006-05-19T20:27:00.000-05:00

Here's a visual update to my life.

This is Jamie and I last April tiptoeing through the tulips in Mount Vernon, WA. We were only dating at the time and this was my first trip to WA to meet the parents.

Jamie and I hanging out in a tree on San Juan Island, WA. We took a week long sailing cruise through the islands in June. He proposed on the boat the second night out. (He's sporting the large beard because he was the captain of the cruise and you can't be captain unless you have the beard. Not sure what that means about women captains.)

Here's my family in Seattle for a visit over Christmas. My Dad is still working for Cargill in MN, 25+ years now. Mom has lost over 50 pounds since turning 50 over a year ago. (She's my hero) Amanda is finishing up her dietetics internship in MN and looking for jobs. David and her are not officially engaged yet, but for all intents and purposes getting married when they get all David's school plans nailed down. And I guess I'm truely adapting to Seattle as I'm the only one holding a Starbucks and wearing a Goret-ex raincoat.

And finally, here is Caleb the puppy. He's actually a 7 year old Australian Shephard that Jamie has had since puppyhood. He's very intelligent and talkative and enjoys long walks, playing frisbee or ball, and covert raids on the trash can (there is NO trash he can't get into, trust us).

Introducing Maya Laine Kelley Maddy

2006-05-18T14:01:00.001-05:00

She was born at 9:16 am on Monday, May 15th. She's definitely a keeper - 8 lbs 14 oz and 20 inches long. We got to come home on Tuesday around noon, so we've been settling in ever since. Everyone is doing great, dogs included. Ginger and Elwood are both very gentle with her, which is fun to watch.

Waiting...

2006-05-08T12:48:00.000-05:00

Any creative suggestions to make the next few days go faster? I'm due on Thursday, and I'm incredibly excited to meet our little girl. I can't wait any more - I'm done with school till August, I can't travel far, and I've run out of things to clean and/or organize.

Suggestions??

Another Birthday

2006-05-03T11:55:00.000-05:00

unless I'm mistaken... it's Michelle's day to be inducted into the quarter of a century club. But as I'm not yet a member, I'll just say:

Happy Birthday!

and a side note: spellcheck suggests "missile's" for "Michelle's."

The End

2006-05-03T11:21:00.000-05:00

Well, not quite, but almost.

And please note I'm going to try to keep this short.

Thursday
- we take off for Iowa for the weekend.
- the unofficial and unapproved roommate gets a notice that she has to be out Sunday by noon.
- after giving the unapproved roommate the boot, the landlords give the official tenant one last chance and go over all the points on the lease where she is in default
- after that two hour conversation between the landlord and the tenant, the landlord find out the official and approved tenant (and teacher at a private, and very expensive school, might I add) apparently sold pot to an undercover cop and the cops are going to bust her on Friday

Friday
- we're blissfully unaware of all of this, and being extremely well fed in Des Moines. And let me tell you, there is truth behind the construction/drinking stereotype. Those guys could really put it away.
- the cops show up when the tenant is at work, yet the roommate is around with a couple of other people (boyfriends and the like), but doesn't respond when the cops knock. The cops try the key given to them from the landlord, only to find the door chained. They use the battering ram on the front door, and on a bedroom door, as the people that were here opted to lock themselves in a bedroom. All who are here are hauled off in cuffs. Then they go to arrest the tenant at the school.

So, we learn about all of this on Sunday when we finally talk to the landlord. The upstairs tenant is willing to be out by this Saturday instead of being evicted, so we won't have to deal with her much longer.

Oh, and we had a good time in Iowa. Brent's training was a little on the dull side, but that was to be expected. Basically it was a free trip to go see family, eat a ton of food and share war stories and commiserate with others whom go through this whole crazy moving every two years or so thing.

any excuse for a new toy

2006-04-27T05:54:00.000-05:00

So, we're off to Iowa for Brent's spring training. And no, he's not a baseball player. Twice a year, spring and fall, they bring everyone back to the home office for training. Anyway, every spring they have a banquet. For some reason (probably because of my hatred of clothes shopping) I get it in my head to sew myself a skirt for the occasion. So after the skirt is completely constructed, I sweet talked Brent into helping me measure out the hem so I can finish. So, armed with a yardstick, the most level piece of floor we can find in the 125+ year old house, and pins, he sets to work. And then says, "you know this would be so much easier if I had a laser level..."

Too Much Drama

2006-04-26T13:22:00.000-05:00

So, it's been an interesting past few days. We live in a two-flat, which means we have upstairs neighbors. One girl signed the lease and moved in about two weeks after we did, along with an "official" roommate that's not on the lease, but technically needs to be. And then it began.

It's her first apartment. Her first place on her own, away from mom and dad. And it feels like it's a freshman dorm. Loud music at any given hour of the day or night. People coming and going all day, even when the actual tenants (official or not) aren't around. And some of these people have their own keys. Smoking when the landlords and the lease expressly says no smoking.

All of this is annoying, but we can deal. Not ideal by any means, but we've tolerated stuff like this before. However, one of the reasons we chose this place is because it was in a nice, quite neighborhood and not an apartment complex of any sort. Maybe we were being naive. I just don't know.

But the landlords, who were completely burned by their last tenants, have a right to know what's going on. We've talked, and determined that pretty much half of the stuff the tenant says is a bald face lie. She must think we're stupid or something. Most of it is just minor stuff, usually trying to be the moderator and smooth things over, but if she's constantly being caught in a minor lie, it is likely that she has no problems lying about more important stuff. It's not hard to be honest if you have nothing to hide.

And then things escalated. Music was being played so loud that one of our neighbors could hear it in his living room, windows closed, tv on. So on Friday, he called the landlord to complain and the landlord called and asked me what was going on, and I filled him in.

He was furious. He came straight over, marched up to the door, and knocked, twice. Then he let himself in to find the pseudo-roommate who had just arrived a mere 15 minutes prior to his arrival, the two friends that arrived with her, and (I assume) her boyfriend, who had been there all day long. They had locked themselves in the back bedroom, smoking and playing video games, and claimed not to hear the knocks. I think they've taken to hiding when they know they aren't suppose to be there, so they know what they're doing is wrong. Otherwise why would four people lock themselves into a room during the middle of the day?

But anyway, the landlord loses his cool. I could hear him yelling perfectly, clear across the house. He says his piece, and then under the premise of fixing a faucet (which he does need to fix) come and fills me in. Nothing I didn't already know or suspect.

However, after he leaves, things get even more interesting. I'm in the kitchen, making up a batch of cookies, and I can hear them in the farthest back bedroom talking. And from the snippets I hear, they're talking about me. I didn't feel comfortable and just had to get out of there. So I re-introduced myself to one of my neighbors I had only met in passing and we hit it off and ended up talking for 4 hours, so at least there was one positive thing coming of all of this drama.

The weekend comes and things are surprisingly calm. Of course it helps that we were gone most of Saturday, and she was gone Saturday night and most of Sunday.

I was just thinking that things could be calming down for good. And then three big black guys, perfect strangers that I have never seen before, yelled something at me while I was in a neighbor's back yard, talking to her and her two little kids. This was after they had walked up, strutting across our front lawn (we're responsible for the lawn care, so it is indeed our lawn, not the other tenants by any means) like they owned the place and went in to the apartment above, apparently to see the boyfriend of the pseudo-tenant. I'm not sure what they yelled, since it took me a moment to register that they were yelling at me, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't a "hello, and welcome to the neighborhood" sort of thing.

So I've reached the breaking point. I'm not comfortable in my own home. Brent's not comfortable with me being here by myself. Other neighbors aren't comfortable with the situation and have offered me a safe haven if I feel I need it. It's a gorgeous day, and I don't feel like I can sit out on the deck and read a book. I've become hyper-aware of other people's comings and goings. I've even taken to writing down the plate numbers of what cars are outside. I don't trust these people. Since half of what comes out of their mouths is a lie, trying to be civilized adults and talking things through makes no sense at all. I feel like an annoying nosy neighbor, but I feel like I have to be on my toes.

The landlords are not approving the application of the pseudo-roommate, so that's one step, but they may have a harder time getting the other tenant, the one with the lease, out. But even with one gone, I don't think things will change that much until they're both gone since they're friends and I don't know how well our landlords will be able to enforce things.

I love the house, I love the location, I love the rest of the neighbors...if we wouldn't be moving in two years, we'd probably be buying this place (oh, it's currently for sale, which means that there's showings, and that is a whole different story in itself). But if things don't change, we're going to be moving. It's getting to the point that it's us or them.

And once again, cookies and gold stars to all that read this far. And yes, I will owe people a bunch of cookies, and I want you to know I'm good for them. But as of right now, you have to come and collect. Or maybe we'll seriously have to plan a weekend reunion thing or something. I'm only 4 hours away...

Another reason to celebrate

2006-04-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

I know everyone will be busy celebrating Zimbabwe's Independence from the Brits a mere 26 years ago, but during your feast of ostrich steak, eland stroganoff and crocodile tail in cheese sauce, please remember to raise your glass of Chibuku and toast another momentous event that took place a quarter of a century ago today.

Happy Birthday, Anne!

New Address

2006-04-15T21:23:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!
My wife and I finally moved off campus from a apartment smaller than your average classroom to a reasonable thing closer to work. If any of you are in the area, feel free to stop by!

1847 Cambridge Park Place apartment 103 Springdale, AR 72764 My wife's cell is 479-236-2414 My cell is 479-236-7657

This Day in History

2006-04-15T08:47:00.000-05:00

April 15:

1452 - Leonardo da Vinci, Italian artist born (d. 1519)

1865 - Abraham Lincoln dies after being shot the previous evening by John Wilkes Booth.

1912 - The British passenger liner RMS Titanic sinks at about 2:20 a.m. after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic almost three hours earlier.

1924 - Rand McNally publishes its first road atlas.

1940 - The Allies start their attack on the Norwegian town of Narvik which was occupied by Nazi Germany

1955 - The first McDonald's restaurant opens in Des Plaines, Illinois.

1981 - Jay Collman first graces the world with his presence.

Happy Birthday, Jay!

**info courtesy of Wikipedia**

A post of it's own

2006-04-13T17:30:00.000-05:00

So, as I alluded to in the comments, I am this close to having a job. In fact, I have a job lined up if I want it. A job that would be just a job, but not completely misery inducing. Of course, today things got much more complicated. Gather round, folks, it's story time.

As our story begins, our intrepid heroine is looking around her new home, quite impressed with the fact that everything (5000 lbs. according to the movers) was unpacked and in its place within a mere two days. But now how was she to fill her time? It was time to find a job.

The search began with the websites of area libraries, as our heroine was considering going back to library school. There were many openings for people who already had that precious piece of paper that declared them a "master," but there were a few that didn't. And better yet, there were a few that were nearby. So she applied.

Time passed, but she heard nothing. She figured competition would be tough in this metro area, so she decided to apply for something else -- something that wouldn't be her first choice, but something that wouldn't be too horrible. Nothing to do with food or the serving there of. She was far too klutzy for that. Retail, she thought. Those jobs are always in abundance. So on Monday, she turned in four applications.

At one stop, a craft store, when she handed over her application, she was immediately given a time for an interview. On Wednesday, already. So on Wednesday, she went. And apparently, she was witty and charming (or at least not horribly annoying and demanding) so she was offered a job on the spot. Since she was taken aback by the quickness of the whole process, she asked if she could have some time to process and it was agreed that she would give an answer by Friday.

Still hoping something may come from the applications she had sent out just a week before, she was hesitant to take the position. After all, it wasn't a career, it was just a job. Just a job cutting fabric or framing art and photographs. As "just a job" goes, it wouldn't be bad, but if she took it, would she be missing out on something bigger and better? Something she really wanted?

After she was talked down out of her over analytical, semi-frenzied state by objective parties, she decided to accept the job. Accept it, but still keep an eye out for what she really wanted. That next day, Thursday, she called the manager to accept, but the manager was out until Friday. However, as she needed to visit the store to purchase some supplies for a project she was working on, she could talk to the other manager if she happened to see her.

While in the store, she saw the other manager up near the registers. For some unexplained reason, she was nervous and seriously contemplated hiding in one of the aisle until the other manager moved along to a different area of the store. However, she sucked it up and walked up register to ring up her purchases, and mentioned to the other manager that she had decided to accept the job offer. However, when she got to the car, she listened to the voicemail message she had received since cell phone reception was limited inside the store. It was from a library, wanting to set up an interview with her.

Her brain went into overdrive. She began to formulate a plan:

Be honest, and say she's still interested, but there are other opportunities that could lead to a long term career. As these opportunities are also part time, there is a possibility that she could still work at the craft store, but her availability would go from completely flexible to not so much. All she needs is more time to go through the interview process and hear back. (And if these people aren't willing to work with her through this process, does she really even want to work for them, she asked herself).

Then she gets two more phone calls from two other libraries, also wanting to set up interviews.

And then her head exploded.

Craziness, I tell you. Craziness.

ten points, a gold star AND a cookie to anyone who has read this far.

American Council of good-Looking Uncles

2006-04-12T09:27:00.000-05:00

There you go.

How To Fold a Fitted Sheet

2006-04-08T15:44:00.000-05:00

My mom was taught by her mom many years ago, and she found the description online!

http://wiki.ehow.com/Fold-a-Fitted-Sheet

My Hand Raised

2006-04-06T13:32:00.000-05:00

Survey: How Many of Us Can Say We're Going to Be an Uncle?

2006-04-06T13:28:00.000-05:00

Let's see a show of hands.

Some more pics

2006-04-04T13:57:00.000-05:00

I can't resist!

Family Guy

2006-04-04T13:26:00.000-05:00

Yes, I recently got engaged! I met Hope when she started attending my small group (Bible study) last August, and we've been together every day since! She has a 20 month-old daughter, Elisabeth, who I love to death. Here's a picture of the three of us (it was drizzling, sorry for the fuzziness).

I proposed earlier this month, and we are getting married on August 26th.

Jay, don't you have some news to share with us?

2006-04-04T12:10:00.000-05:00

Jay,

I heard some news about you a few weeks ago. Are you going to let us know about it?

Name that State

2006-03-28T09:03:00.000-06:00

Look familiar? It sorta should. . . it's a soybean field. You might be asking yourself: 'Where did he get a picture of a soybean field in the middle of March?' A good question, the answer is: Brazil.

I just got back on Sunday after a short 5 day trip to the south american continent. Driving around the Brazilian coutry side and seeing the sights was not too different from that of Iowa. Crazy, I know. (There was a picked cornfield on the other side of the road too)

distractions

2006-03-23T10:49:00.000-06:00

-a gold star to the first to figure it out.

-why is it that when cleaning you have to make a huge mess?

-can anyone, with the exception of martha stewart fold a bloody fitted sheet?

-be sure to do a test before cleaning mini blinds.

-i need good road trip tunes. any suggestions?

an update on rebecca's life

2006-03-17T12:46:00.000-06:00

hey guys....

i thought i might go ahead and post the recent updates in my life, each of which has come up in the last 2 weeks (it's been a VERY busy/stressful time)!

1. i'll start with the bad....my grandma perdue is going through some health issues. i'm not sure how much she wants me to share with people, but there is cancer involved, and she's probably having surgery next week in iowa city. prayers would be appreicated. she should come through ok, but it's always hard to go through it.

2. I GOT ACCEPTED TO GRAD SCHOOL!!! as of august, i will officially be an iowa hawkeye. hmmm. i still have to ponder my betrayal to the dark side from time to time. anyway, i was accepted into the master's in library science program. the plan for right now is that i'm going to move there over the summer, start classes in the fall (and hopefully get at least a part-time job somewhere), finish as soon as i can, and work in a university library somewhere for a while.

3. as would of course happen right when i decide to finally cut my losses and leave the little town of winterset, i have found myself a bit attached to the place. i'm now dating a youth pastor here in town. his name is jay and he's a great guy (the obvious downfall being the living in winterset part, since i'll soon be moving). no word yet on how "serious" this is or will become, but i do love the irony of me deciding to leave the town partly because there's no one here my age and then starting to date someone here within a week of getting my acceptance letter to grad school 2 hours away.

4. this week is final exams at school, so i currently am serving my inservice time (yeah, workday!). my grades are in, so i have to plan for class the monday after spring break (we're off all next week), but i'm basically off the hook for a little while. i guess the reason i bring this up is because i'm now 7/8 of the way done with my teaching career! the joke going around here is that i'm "retiring" from teaching at the tender age of 25, which i guess is partially true. i will miss it in some ways, but for the most part it's a big ole "GOOD RIDDANCE!" i don't regret doing it for 2 years because it's been a great experience, but i'm definitely ready to move on and do something i love as opposed to something i don't look forward to at all.

so i guess that's it...i just wanted to fill everyone in. it's funny to think of how we all were in high school and how we all are now...new houses, new babies, still finishing school, going back to school, starting new careers....i guess it shouldn't seem crazy, but it does somehow. ok, that's it for my moment of nostalgia. hope everyone has a great weekend!

Finally!!

2006-03-17T08:23:00.000-06:00

A week from today, we're packing up and moving out. Chicago-bound baby.

Well, at least I will be. There's a chance Brent may be holing up in a hotel and working out of his car for a bit longer, cleaning up other people's messes. That's what you get for being the responcible one, I suppose.

But we're actually, factually, and FINALLY moving! No more false alarms. No more pseudo 60 day notices for vacating our apartment that turn into 120 day notices (thankfully, we have a very understanding apartment manager, otherwise we'd be homeless three times over by now!). There had been rumors starting around this time last year that we'd be moving late summer, early fall...2005. Then it became "by the end of the year." And since Christmas, it's been "by the end of the month" each month since. But now, now the moving company has been called, the utilities scheduled to be cut off at this end, and started at our new place, not to mention we actually have a new place. It's for real this time.

And the new place is perfect for us -- something we'd consider buying if not for the fact we'll be moving again in two years. We're renting the lower level of old farmhouse that now sits on a corner lot in a far western suburb, two blocks from the Fox River. Three bedrooms with brand-new carpet, fireplace, HUGE kitchen, massive screened-in porch, two car garage (detached, but hey, you can't have everything). The town seems to have that small town charm with the downtown businesses, parks and trails along the river, yet has all the amenities you could need.

So I'm excited. We're excited. One week.