THE QUEST BEGINS

Christmas this year was about as wonderful as Cindy and I could want or deserve. We got everything we wanted. ie. all of the chicks under the same snow covered and very cold roof.

In Florida we've discovered that when the temp's are in the mid 60's it's considered too cold for teenagers to go outside.

This is the view from our front door and we've decided to buy the 9 acres behind the flag and build our winter home. Of course we still have to negotiate the price. I've set our limit at 300. dollars an acre. Kelly thinks that may be a tad bit low but Mike pointed out that Walt Disney only paid 28. dollars an acre back in 1962 so it shouldn't have gone up much more than 100%.

I've been working on my relaxed look, and Cindy is in shorts (so you know it must be warm.

Tomorrow we head to Wally World. We have almost everything we want or need in life. There is someone we will miss but if I can get my son-in-law to quit blocking me on Skype maybe we can see her...Love and miss you all....

ORANGES

Even though I've been to Florida on vacation many times, there is much to learn about this state.

Apparently there are some very interesting places besides that Magic Mouse park...Pat's place is one...

Pat is a retired physic's teacher who repairs instruments....He has a wooden shack behind his house chuck full of trumpets, guitars, saxophones, tuba's etc...He has strong opinions about musicians. Apparently his daughter is dating a drummer. If asked Pat will take the time to explain about the saxophone on his bench. It's in about 100 pieces and was found underwater.

Oranges are really a hybrid between lemon and orange. If a freeze (like the one in 82) hits really hard it kills the orange part of the tree and leaves just the lemon part of the tree. A few years later a fruit grows that looks just like a navel orange and tastes like lemon acid.

Also we've found a couple of potential winter properties...we're thinking of selling the trailer and buying a nice piece of land next door to the McGorman's....If we can get it for 1,000. an acre we'll be breaking ground next week....

Bo Versus The Mouse

Well, the pixie dust has dissolved as Bo had an altercation with Mickey today... the back story. We thought we had reservations for Disney World starting Dec. 30, but found out that they start on the 31st. We tried several times to add a day to our reservations, but have not succeeded... this is not a big deal as we are visiting our friends, Kelli and Mike McGorman and they are very generous hosts. In fact, they asked us to stay an extra night to attend their New Year's Eve party, so we tried to cancel our first night, the 31st, and discovered that it would cost us $85 more to cancel a night. After spending many minutes on and off hold, he concluded discussions with Babs, the reservations clerk and asked for Guest Relations and things went down hill from there... You would think that someone who has gone to WDW at least 25 times and owns stock in the company, might be able to cancel one night without having to pay 2010 prices (when the reservations were made in January 2009).

Bo has refused to write this posting, but I felt that in the climate of full disclosure, we needed to add this bit of information on our itinerary. We will get to Disney on the planned day, but the magic is gone... at least for now. More later.

What is the half-life of a loaf of bread?

Well, after our kids left on Christmas day, we decided to fight the weather and leave for GR on Christmas evening. This entailed a four hour cleaning, packing, closing up of the house.... turning off the water, putting antifreeze in all the orifices, etc. We cleaned out the refrigerator and checked all the cupboards.... except the bread drawer. It was about half way to GR, with the trailer weaving behind the truck when I remembered that I had bought a small loaf of Meiers baguette and put it in the bread drawer. It is still there.... So we are hoping that a lucky mouse finds it before it becomes penicillin!

Our trip was very cold. The temperature did not top 40 until we got to Florida, but it was in the 60s today and we did a lot of walking in sunny central Florida. We will be leaving for Disney on New Year's Eve, but that is the topic of the next blog... Bo versus The Mouse.

Waiting for Christmas

Well, the trailer is packed, except for last minute items and the VandenNog is in the fridge, waiting for family and friends to arrive for Christmas celebrations. We are anxiously watching the weather reports of rain, ice and snow that might hinder our travels and the travels of our kids who are heading out in many directions to visit us and then to visit their other families in Chicago and Jackson. This is the lull before the excitement of Christmas celebrations and travel. To all our friends and family, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Keep in touch and we promise to keep the blog updated as we go!

29 ZANE GREY BOOKS ON KINDLE FOR 99 CENTS

Badland Bo stepped off the front porch of the homestead and eyed the covered wagon and team.

"Will we make it Bo?" Little Cindy asked, her brown eyes flashing beneath her bonnet.

Bo pushed back his black hat.

"I won't lie to you Cindy, we'll be traveling through some savage and untamed country."

"But we won't be in Rodney long will we?" Cindy asked.

"Four days give or take."

"Will we be in Indian Country?" Cindy Lee asked, a quiver in her voice.

Bo nodded his head.

"And after what they've done to your family Badland Bo." Her voice trailed off.

"Now don't you fret Cindy Lee" He replied meeting her eyes. "I'll be there to protect you!"

"And I'll be at your side" Cindy Lee said as she gazed up into Bo's piercing blue eyes. "Together no matter what."

TRAILER PACKING IN LATE FALL

There is a foot of snow on the top of our trailer and the wheels are frozen into the ground. I tried to open one of the lower doors and it was frozen shut. I used a tool and now it's broken. (The lock not the tool). Like all the other things broken on the trailer (I got a list) I've decided to wait until I get to Florida to fix it. Maybe with temperatures in the mid 60's (I'd be happy with mid 30's today) I'll feel more like gluing things back together. (Gorilla glue...the best invention since the monkey wrench).

I remind myself that it is still late fall (the official first day of winter is Dec. 21st). But I comfort myself with an image....It's 70 degrees outside and I'm motoring through Southern Georgia on I-75...the window is down and I watch in the rear view mirror as chunks of snow fly off (and maybe a trailer part or two)...I sip my cola and gaze contentedly into the sunrise.

GHOSTS OF LOST LOVED ONES

To transport the cat to the son-in-law's it was decided (not by me) that they needed a sedative. The cat version of "a happy pill". Like most decisions made by generals, it had to be carried out by a private. Or as the Talmud Rabbi (Ben Somethingorother) said "Soldiers do the fighting and Generals are the hero's" In this case Cindy said "do it" and I got scratched.

At the vet's office the young lady needed to up date our records. From a rather thick file she began extracting sheets of paper. "moma cat" she asked. "Dead" (old age). With a red magic marker she drew a line through the page and pulled up another sheet.

"Tank?" "Dead" (car/dog accident). "Charlie?" "Dead" (car/dog accident). "Samson?" "Dead" (old age). "Athen?" "Who?" "A cat named Athen?" "Dead" (Squashed by a truck tire). "Lucky?" "Dead" (really missing in action but I didn't want to explain that I lost my dog.). "Dootels?" "No longer living with us!" (I gave that horse sized dog away before she dug up the other half of my yard.).

Two cats (gone where ever cats go when they die) and five dogs (four in heaven and the other still digging her way to the other place.)

PACKING A TRAILER

The amazing thing to me is that 28 years ago, almost to the day, Cindy and I arrived at the farm with only those items that could be stuffed into a VW Beetle. Considering that two kids were also wedged in the back, we were possessed of very few material goods. Fortunately we remembered to bring along the hospital manual they gave us after each of the kids was born. The title was "HOW TO RAISE HEALTHY WELL ADJUSTED CHILDREN" (subtitled "DON'T PANIC")

Today I'm engaged in selecting those material goods which shortly will be wedged into a 22 foot trailer (with slide out) and our monster truck. I'm still trying to find that manual they gave me at the retirement party "HOW TO REMAIN HEALTHY AND WELL ADJUSTED IN RETIREMENT", ironically it has the same subtitle.

Xmas is now 10 days away and we are busy wrapping presents (too many for the grandchild), decorating the house and planing menu's. The angel on the xmas tree is 10 feet from the floor and she (like all of the really good angels) is a little askew.

LAST DAY

Well I had my last day today. A special and rare opportunity to plunge a knife into the heart of a young father. "Yes your parental rights are terminated" "No you won't be able to watch your daughter grow up" He cried...the grandmother cried...I packed and left the building.

Retirement

By now most of you know I have stopped working at the courthouse. This may come as a surprise to many of our friends because you were convinced I never did work. All those years as a janitor cleaning up the emotional mess left behind by divorces, death, etc. are over and I have decided to "redeploy". I say redeploy because I'm convinced retirement is the wrong word. According to my advisors, (Micky et. al.) I will never stop working.

This is of course true because I am married....and have adult children, each of whom have "projects" (hops/garage/barn etc.). David hasn't checked in with a list yet but I know someday he will.

The view this morning outside the front door is everything I've come to expect from "late fall" in Michigan.

The trailer has yet to be packed, although we have several tables in the house piled high with "stuff".

Cindy and I have engaged in fierce arguments about how many juice glasses we need...(16 vs. 2)...clothes pins (24 vs. 4) and if it's really necessary to take 12 pair of shoes! But thanks to our "Kindels" we are both able to bring a miniature library. I have downloaded over 200 books (And yes I've read 4 already). That huge pile of books next to the bed is neatly shelved in the library and I am re-reading some of the books that brought me joy as a child. Alice and the white rabbit are still pleasant company.

One of my kids (I won't use names but her initials are S.M.) observed that something I did recently was prompted by my life long use of lists. (ie. my apparent obsession with making a "to do" list and then methodically crossing items off). She was correct of course. (It's concerning that I'm so predictable.) So I hereby resolve to be less predictable. I will of course add that to my "to do" list, along with "rose smelling" and long walks.

Most of all I am resolved to make my wonderful wife happy. So I guess the trailer will roll with 16 juice cups, 24 cloths pins and enough shoes to make Emelda Marcos red with envy.

Here come the bride and groom!

Congratulations to Teresa and Bryan!



Congratulations to Dr. Teresa and Dr. Bryan Kovas! October 10, 2009

It was a typical Vandenbergh event. All the usual suspects were there:

The Dutch Mafia

The Divas

The cousin and cuz-in-law

Important guests

and foreign Dignitaries

Cute Girls

and good lookin' guys

The bouncers / Designated Drivers

The one who never dances

The "Who invited him?" Uncle ......

and Last but not least, the happy couple!!!!

News From Chippewa Lake

Our above average grandchild in her back yard swing.
After winning a car the only thing left is to enjoy the company of my golf buddy...
A couple of good looking babes at the cottage...Note the matching dresses....Badger was consulting with aunt heather about the possiblity of cousins to play with....

View in the back seat...note the matching hats....

Hole in One

Golf! Such a simple game...hit the ball win a car...why did I bother going to law school?

2nd ANNUAL WILDERNESS TRIP

The 2nd annual Cook, Toogood, Lehner, Hoover, Hull fishing trip was yet another raging sucess

Arriving on Friday the mannly men (aka the four dwarfs) set off fishing.

Only two fish were brought back to the camp. Clearly not everyone in the group was contributing to the effort. I will be giving lessons next year.

There was a good camp fire with lots of wood.

Then we went to town for the 5th game of the Stanley Cup. The couples at this table represent 186 years of marriage. Connie and Bob Lehner were celebrating 40 years of marital bliss!

Finally on the trip home we got to see our grandchild Badger who got to watch Grandpa take a nap.

Are you my parents?

I wait... and I wait.... and they don't call, they don't write. They have abandoned me with the diva and the nutcase... and then there's the grandparents..... I miss mom and dad and that little creepy crawler with the sticky fingers....

Proud Moment For David and His Parents

Well, our youngest chick graduated from Grand Valley State University on April 25!  Just him and 1000 of his fellow students, all looking for jobs!  Congratulations to David!  

Wise Mystery Dinner

The climax of the the annual Wise Mystery Dinner involved the twenty actors idenitifying the goverment agent (masquarading as a dinner guest) and shooting him repeadly with squirt guns. The actors were an assortment of attorneys and Department of Human services workers. Thank goodness they wern't allowed to use real ammuniation.

BADGER TAKES A BREAK

Hello world it's me Badger! Again, with the help of Grandpa (code name Gandoff) and Nana (code name Nana) I am able to report on my efforts to escape from Cleveland.

Last week I toured several new homes with mom and dad in the Traverse City area. Some were nice...

Some were not so nice...

Still I think I've got mom and dad talked into the one I want. The problem is I'm not sure they understand a word I say. Grandpa says it's something to do with both my parents being science majors and not having a clue about comunication skills. Grandpa says to be patient with them and with time they will get better. I guess all parent's go through different development stages. Grandpa has warned me about "terrible two" (the "two" refers to mom and dad) and that's the time when niether one of them has a clue!. I hope I can get them moved into a new home and settled in by then!

All in all it was a good week. I got to meet my great Aunt Susan (Code named "she who must be obeyed") and great Uncle Don (code name "shank hippo") .


I'm a little worried about my great uncle Don. His golf swing seems odd and the way he holds his club is pathetitic. He'll never be anything but a duffer unless he learns to relax on the links.

I met my great Aunt Val (code name Val) and some old guy she hangs out with (code name "old guy"). I was telling the joke about the duck, the pine tree and the cell phone. They laughed so hard I thought the old guy's teeth would fall out. They want me to meet their four grandson's but I stalled them. Maybe next summer.
Aunt Val had some problems with her Donkeys so I gave her a few tips. She let me ride one of them around the farm. I had to ride bareback. I kept telling dad I wanted a saddle but all he would say is "cute horsey! cute horsey!" It's a DONKEY DAD!

But the best part was the chance to talk with Grandpa...


and Nana!

All for now... remember Moscow Rules! Badger....

SPRING BREAK 2009

This being our annual spring break, we had a choice between the Villages in Florida and Traverse City Michigan.  Althought the choice might be obvious to those of you who equate "Spring" break with sandy beaches and warm weather, we march to a different drummer.  Think ice covered bays, sub-zero temp's and the rumble of snow plows.

We began our adventure at a neat little b&b near Bellaire (Bellaire is

 an Indian word meaning "too damn cold for people").   Lucky for us we had reservations.  The proportors Pat & Stu made us feel right at home.  Uncle Stu was anxious to show us their new heat source the patented "DVD Home Fireplace".   I guess Uncle Stu saw it advertised on TV and was impressed that it was Amish built.

I actually burnt my finger when I touched the screen.

One of the other guests found the the "DVD Home Fireplace" so warm he wore shorts!

Later (after a wonderful dinner) we learned a new card game call "Bo and Stu Lose".

Aunt Pat took our picture.  I think she wanted to compare us with america's most wanted.

The next day we went to Traverse City and stayed at the Bay Shore Hotel (Because of  the recession they paid us to stay there).

Cousin Jody came and soaked in the hot tub (she refused to let me take her picture...something about an old scandal involving facebook and a transvestite midget wrestler)

Next day we went to look for Badger's new home.  In between house hunting I sampled some excellent dark beer (We only ate at micro brewerys.)  One of them offered to make me a life time member ($50.) with $5. refills on my "growler".  Joel I'll explain it to you this summer.

In the spirit of Spring Break I wanted to take a stroll on the beach.  This is as close as I could get Cindy to go.

Still we had a wonderful time on our northern spring break and look forward to returning again. (ie. in the SUMMER!)