New Year's Eve

Well, here it is, December 31st and I just have to remark that this has been the most fun blog year! Thank you so much, Karl, for setting this up, and making sure it is inhabited with interesting, insightful, and delightful blogs. I was thinking that, on this New Year's Eve it would be fun to have a little contest of sorts, and see who could be the first to post a blog in 2008. I know that the times are always a little off on the posting. For example, as I'm writing this it's 4:20. I'll type a little more, and put a time at the end of my post, and then I'll comment right away, so you can see how far off the time is. Then you can use that strategy to help you post the first blog of the new year.

Now I know what you're all going to say, that you'll all be out celebrating, and that I'm the only one that doesn't have a life. but that's not true. Betsey and Rich are pretty much homebodies these days, and Edward and Meridth are in a new area, still making new friends. Who knows what they're doing tonight. Also, Ryan and Casey like to party with the fam, so they might be around too. We'll just see.

Anyway, just a couple more comments, and I'll end. Eleanor Iris is beautiful, and so quiet and good. Ed and I are so lucky we got to hang out with her for four days (and her mom and dad). We had a wonderful time, we loved seeing the play "Wicked" and we loved holding Nora!

-Claudia- 4:27

Merry Christmas to loved ones

We slept until 9:00 in the morning this year for the first time ever on a Christmas morning. There were five presents under the tree. Two for Karl, two for Emily and one for Dad. Yesterday, we went to see the newest National Treasure movie. It was enjoyable but not particularly memorable. We went to Asakusa for dinner and had Japanese food to appease Mom Then we came home, and played a round of Skipbo (again, to appease Mom). After posting this low-key blog, I will make some breakfast while Dad works out on the eliptical trainer. Then we will begin sorting out what we need to pack for our trip to Los Angeles.

Karl and Emily are heading up to Chicago on Thursday to watch the Bulls play, without a head coach. All-in-all, it's just a quiet Christmas.

But I am thinking of you all, and missing you. I can never get over how fast you all grew up, and how time passes so very quickly. It just seems like yesterday that I was a little girl, waiting for the excitement of Christmas morning. I have always loved the songs, the stories, the lights, and the happy times with family members, outdoor activities in the snow, the memories of playing games, doing jigsaw puzzles, Lego projects, and wonderful food. I look forward to next year, when, hopefully, we can all be together again.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Love, Mother

Karl is too modest!

I just found this message on my email, and wanted to share it with you all. Edward and I have always felt that you kids have been such great children, and when we see the problems that so many other people have with their kids, we feel so humble that you have all been so good. We have never felt that it is anything in particular that we've done special, but just that Heavenly Father sent down some wonderful spirits to come and live in our home. Anyway, this is a tribute to all of you, especially you older siblings that helped get Karl up every morning, fed, and out the door, since I always left for school before you did. I love you all and am grateful to be your mom.


To the family of Karl Gimbel

Hello. My name is Dwight Worker. I was your son's instructor in Systems
Analysis and Design this semester.

I want to tell you that Karl was a very good student in my class.
He worked hard and had a positive attitude in class. He earned a solid 'A' and
had perfect attendance. He is
also well-spoken and mannered. My father would have said about him that he
was 'well brought up'.

My son recently graduated from IU. I know how we, as parents, can worry
about how well our children are doing. I feel confident in saying that Karl
will succeed in
whatever he chooses in life.


Good work!

Sincerely,

Dwight Worker
Professor of Information Systems
Kelley School of Business

Happy Holidays

I recently got these great Christmas cards. LOOK HOW BIG ALL THESE DUDES ARE!!! Send them to the old-folks home!!! And I got a great Polar Bear from mom and dad. It was so thick that I think someone thought there would be money in it or something because it came to me opened (you didn't send anything did you? cause I didn't get it).

Snow in Indiana

Snow job remains as 8-16 inches fall, drifting an issue. Today's morning commute is expected to be complicated after an early-winter storm dumped more than a foot snow in some areas of northeast Indiana over the weekend.

Overall snow accumulations ranged from about 8 inches in Fort Wayne to more than 16 inches at the National Weather Service Office in Syracuse, according to meteorologist Earl Breon.

Statewide, average snow accumulation amounts varied from 6 to 14 inches, according to the National Weather Service Web site.

According to the National Weather Service, less than an inch of new snow was expected Sunday night.

While motorists in Fort Wayne will hopefully see clear main streets this morning, caution is still advised because some hazardous conditions may exist, said Bernie Beier, of the Fort Wayne-Allen County Office of Homeland Security.

County roads may be a different matter. Beier said main county roads are expected to passable, but secondary roads could be drifted shut.

City crews were running 24 hours, and county crews had all their employees and equipment on the roads, though Beier said county crews struggled with drifting snow Sunday afternoon.

For the most part, Beier said the public responded to officials' requests to stay off the roads Sunday.

“We've had really surprisingly few slide-offs and accidents today,” Beier said.

Allen County was among seven counties that issued weather alerts.

The snowstorm hit before the first day of winter, which is Saturday, National Weather Service meteorologist Mark Steinwedel said.

“So this would be considered an early-season snowstorm, but it's not uncommon.”

About 4:30 p.m. Sunday, the National Weather Service canceled a winter weather warning originally in effect until 7 p.m. Sunday, Steinwedel said. The agency did issue a special weather statement. Steinwedel said blowing and drifting snow would continue to be a problem throughout Sunday night into today.

Overnight, 20- to 25-mph winds were expected with possible gusts up to 35 mph, Steinwedel said.

Graduation

Sam says I look like Harry Potter with my glasses on... with my gown I really felt like Harry... EXPECTO PATRONUM!!!!!!!
I thought I looked more like a Jedi though... I've always wanted to be a Jedi... These aren't the droids you're looking for,

Worst movie ever

I know I've talked about it with some of you, but let me tell all of you. Because I Said So was the worst movie ever and I was just wondering what movie you guys thought was the worst movie of all time. Let me know.

More Gingerbread Man Sightings

Look at this! The Gingerbread Man is working on a new 2008 Chevy pick-up truck! I hope that he is earning $25.00 an hour, instead of the paltry $19.00 that the other new hires get. Do you suppose he has health insurance to cover when he gets soaked with milk, or when he loses one of his gumdrop buttons?

We mailed this picture, along with the math picture, and the Gingerbread Man, to Chloe's kindergarten teacher, Miss Moore. It was a lot of fun to help document his travels. Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!

The Gingerbread Man

So I found the Gingerbread Man! He came to my seventh grade classroom to help me teach a class on fraction equivalents. He is especially accomplished with fractions, since he contains 3/4ths of a cup of brown sugar, and 1/2 cup of molasses. We are sending a copy of this picture to Chloe's kindergarten class, and I am hoping that Ed will get a picture of him tomorrow, working on a brand new pick-up truck!

All our love,
Ed and Claudia

You know how Ashley loves snowglobes......

There is a wonderful site out there with a snowglobe that you can shake, and it is so cute. I wanted you all to have the joy this Christmas season to shake the snowglobe in honor of Ashley, so here is the website.

ww12.e-tractions.com/snowglobe/globe.htm

I wanted to put a button in that would automatically take you there, but I can't seem to get to it. So, because of my technical inexperience, you will just have to enter the website by yourselves.

Hey, isn't it so fun to see all the pictures of baby Eleanor? Just like when Chloe was born, I can't wait to fly out and see the precious new little one.

Claudia

Happy "We Love Nora" Day!

I'm not sure if Edward and I are going to be able to print our Christmas cards this year so here it is. I definitely had Eleanor on the brain...so this is what I came up with.

Congrats Betsey and Richard and Happy Christmas everyone!

love,

Meridth

Another update

Sorry we've had a hard time keeping in touch with the family. Between feedings and nurse checkups and sleep, the day has flown by. Betsey and the baby are doing really well. We're all very enamored by each other and have enjoyed the day together. Betsey is a champ at nursing her, which makes us feel very fortunate because we've heard that this can be very difficult. Maybe it will get harder for us in the future. Who knows?

I've posted some more pictures on richardandbetsey.blogspot.com. There's a beautiful one of Betsey just moments after delivering Baby Nora. I can't believe how beautiful, peaceful, and happy she looks. Many thanks to the Gimbel clan for raising such an amazing daughter, sister, and cousin!

Picture of Betsey

Also, there may be a picture of Betsey at richardandbetsey.blogspot.com. I've had trouble uploading, but I think I managed to get one up there.

Eleanor is Coming to Town

Betsey has just received an epidural a few minutes ago and is sleeping comfortably beside me. Prior to receiving the epidural, her water broke naturally, her cervix was completely effaced and dilated between 4 and 5 centimeters, and she was experiencing contractions every 2 minutes. The doctor was pleasantly surprised by how far the baby's head had descended. Everything has proceeded pretty much as Betsey had hoped and planned. Now she just needs to save up energy for the final phase of pushing.

The hospital is beautiful and the staff has been great. It's a brand new maternity wing with amazing private rooms. Some pictures of Betsey a few hours prior to the excitement will follow.

Thanks for all of the phone calls and well wishes! She has really appreciated knowing that her friends and family are rooting for her. We also both feel appreciation for and comforted by your many prayers.

Presentations finished!

I made it! My presentations for school are done and now we are just waiting for Baby Nora to arrive. The doctor scheduled my induction for Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m. It is so strange to think that we will have a baby by Tuesday!

Richard and I are trying to keep busy with the rest of our school work, but I'm afraid I'm rather unfocused. I just keep thinking about our baby and how excited we are for her arrival! We'll be sure to post again before we leave for the hospital...whenever that may be! Thank you all so much for the phone calls, emails, and comments. We have the best friends and family in the world!

Mother's New Addiction

Actually it's not really an addiction yet, since I've only been at the site 3 times in the last two weeks, but I found a new game. Two or three weeks ago, NPR had a blurb about this program called freerice.com, and what they do is they give you vocabulary words with four synonym choices. Every time you pick the correct synonym, you are donating ten grains of rice to needy countries worldwide. (They explain more about that at the website). Anyway,...you know me. I can't stop! I love racking up those bowls of rice, and I love being at the highest levels of performance. I don't know how high the levels go, to be sure, but I have been up to level 47! I just love words, and it really helps to know Latin roots. So if anyone else want to try it, or challenge me to a dual, the site is www.freerice.com and just check it out.

The Final Countdown!

So, I posted something similar on the Team Hawkins blog, but I thought I would just keep you all in on the loop about the end of this pregnancy.

My "official" due date (for whatever that is worth) was updated by my doctor last week to Tuesday, November 27th. There hasn't been any signs that baby Eleanor is coming anytime soon. The doctor did say she is about 7 1/2 pounds right now and that she had dropped, but I haven't had any real contractions or indicators of labor. My doctor said that if she doesn't come out by Monday December 3rd that they will induce me. I don't particularly want to be induced, so after my presentation on Thursday, November 29th, I'm going to try all the old wives tales to get labor going :)

Thank you all so much for your love and concern! We are so excited to meet our new daughter and can't wait for you all to meet her as well!

What are YOU thankful for?

I know we are never supposed to end a sentence with a preposition, but I got tired of looking at the NPR blog and worrying about how Karl was going to live once he gets to Greensburg, so I thought I would ask the Eternal Question--for what things in this life are you grateful?

I know, I know.....how trite. You know the first things that are going to come out of the mouth of Mom--I'm thankful for my (extended) family, I'm thankful for the gospel, I'm thankful for my home and my job..blah, blah, blah. So when you answer this blog, think about it a little bit, and tell some things we may not already know.

I will say two things. I am really grateful that I got to spend the last year and a half administering to my own father. How I love and revere him. He was so smart (that's where you guys get all your brains, by the way), and he was so patient in his infirmities. I hope I will be as gracious and courteous when I get old. All in all, it was a wonderful experience.

The other thing. I am incredibly grateful for the love of such a good man. Sunday, when I was fretting and stewing about how I was going to get the missionaries up to Fort Wayne for a special meeting, your dad agreed to go with me, even though it was a testimony type meeting, and even though he was busy working on the ceiling of the garage. He made this huge, incredible sacrifice because he loves me. I am moved beyond tears that I can be the recipient of such love.

So, how about it? Is this too corny for the too cool, too sarcastic rest of us? I look forward to hearing from you.

I know...I know...another NPR story

Okay people, I realize that no one really loves my NPR stories, but this one was JUST SO GOOD!!!

It was on a program called The Story and it was called "A Home at the Mall" I am cutting and pasting a little blurb from the website here below. The story was just so captivating and interesting. I think you should all check this out!

"An artist in Rhode Island who's lived inside a mall parking garage since 2003 will have to move. Michael Townsend set up house behind a utility door in the Providence Place Mall garage, with couches, a PlayStation, and all the comforts of home. He documented his years living in the mall online, but posted recently that his plans to update the cutlery and install wood flooring have been put on hold. Police say the free lease is up."

Not much new to report from Team Hawkins. Baby Hawkins is due on November 30th and we are paitently waiting for her arrival!

Not just Margie...

So we made cupcakes for the Halloween.

It was festive. Thanks Martha Stewart.

something interesting

Casey sent me an interesting link to a little quiz. You answer a few questions and it tells you which potential candidate you align with most. i know its corny and lacks the precision that our politically aware family members require, but remember its just for fun. the questions are a little vague, but do your best. this is who i had the most in common with. interesting. . . . . anyway. post up who you match!!

ryan

oh, heres the link

$.97 ground beef

We had a ground beef sale from friday to sunday and sold 8800 pounds of ground beef... that's like almost 50 me's or three saturn sky's... MEAT!!!!!!!!

Best Baby Shower EVER!

Sorry for the delay in posting! Especially when Emily was on the edge of her seat waiting for Baby Shower details! It was the best shower and Magie was an amazing hostess! All of my friends are STILL talking about how great the shower was!

Mom's comment pretty much covered everything, but I will add that Margie got an AMAZING and DELICIOUS cake for the shower. It was a very yummy carrot cake. Unfortunatly, most of the cake was eaten by the guests. What were they thinking :)

Additionally, I have to say that I have the most amazing family and friends ever! I got so many wonderful and beautiful gifts, but I did love that Richard's mom gave me his blanket from when he was a little boy and a stuffed elephant (named Sookie) and a stuffed Bear (named Tarp)that Richard loved when he was little. They are so adorable and I love that Baby Hawkins will get to love Tarp and Sookie as well :)

It was also nice to have my brother and Richard attend the shower. Although I was suprised that Edward/Rusty's table did NOT get all the answers right on the quiz! He thought there was some trick questions!

Richard took the pictures below. They are all the tables of people at the shower. Apparently my great friend Morgan took more pictures, but she just moved this week, so I am not nagging her to get those pictures to me :)

Thank you to all my wonderful family who helped us to celebrate Baby Hawkins! It was a great day!!!!

BABY SHOWER?

Okay Gimbel Ladies I think it's time for a blog about the baby shower! Karl said something about Paris Hilton? I need to hear the details. Some questions to consider answering:

Who travelled farthest to make it?
What dishes did Marjorie finally decide on?
Most unique gift?
Notable attendees?
Anything you really wanted that you didn't get? (so Karl and Emily can send it to you)
Did you play games?
and please post pictures!! (even if they're not of the baby shower, says Karl, because there hasn't been a picture posted in ages)

Ashley's secrets REVEALED!!!!!!

My 3 favorite types of candy are:

1. gum
2. skittles
3. air heads

My birthday cake was a triple chocolate fudge monkey cake (mom's secret recipe)

I've seen High School Musical only 2 times (i own the soundtrack and listen to it all the time)

I've seen High School Musical 2 1.5 times

Of those listed Hilary Duff is my favorite. I also like Avril Lavigne, but my parents don't!

False. I do NOT enjoy sharing a room with my sister Chloe. she always steals my stuff and i find it hidden under her pillow.

True. I love goosebumps. i own over 30 of them. this month on cartoon network, goosebumps are playing everynight at 9:00 pm.

At the moment, the 2 things i collect are goosebumps books and snow globes.

i get about 3 phone calls a day. (dad comment: my eye, when smallville is on, ashley is on the phone the whole episode. come on!!)

My favorite subject in school is math

My favorite dinner is fettuccine alfredo with shrimp

For my birthday, my parents surprised me when a limo picked me and my friends up from school. When we got inside, everyone received their very own movie-star sunglasses & a purse with $10 in cash, a lipstick, a packet of gum. It was a lot of fun. The limo took us to The Junction (its kind of like the Gateway in downtown Salt Lake.) We played video games & went rock climbing. I climbed to the very tippy top!!

My favorite movie is 'She's the Man' with Amanda Bines

The activity I would rather participate in is playing a game of basketball.

True. I am great at getting up in the morning & getting ready for school. Sometimes, I even help my little sister get dressed.

If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would go to Italy.

I want to be a clothing fashion designer when I grow up. I have a sketch book filled with designs. All of my classmates at school review the designs in it & write comments on the back of the page.

True. My ears are pierced.

I love canned smoked oysters, hearts of palm, candy, pickles, jewelry, & oysters again.

Most of all, I love my family.

Questions for Ashley Lynn Perkins

I was thinking about my favorite first niece Ashley and how she celebrated her 11th birthday last week. Richard and I talked about what we should get her, (a late present, in the usual Team Hawkins Fashion) and I realized that I have no idea what specific things Ashley loves right now. I decided to create a quiz or questionnaire for Ashley to fill out, so that we can all get to know our favorite first niece a little better. Ashley, please post your responses in a separate blog post so that we can all learn a little bit more about you!

1. Ashley's 3 favorite types of candy are...

2. Ashley had what kind of cake for her birthday?

3. How many times has Ashley seen High School Musical?

4. How many times has Ashley seen High School Musical 2?

5. Which one of these musicians is Ashley's favorite?
A. Hannah Montana
B. The Jonas Brothers
C. Hillary Duff
D. None of the Above (please insert favorite musician here)

6. True or False, Ashley likes to share a room with her sister Chloe.

7. True or False, Ashley loves to read Goosebumps books.

8. Is there anything that Ashley likes to collect?

9. How many phone calls a day does Ashley get at home?

10. What is Ashley's favorite subject in school?

11. What is Ashley's favorite Dinner?

12. What did Ashley do for her 11th birthday?

13. What is Ashley's favorite movie?

14. Which of these activities would Ashley rather participate in?
A. A cheerleading camp
B. Playing a basketball game
C. Performing in a play
D. Dancing
E. None of the Above (Please insert an activity that Ashley would enjoy here)

15. True or False, Ashley is good at getting up and ready for school in the morning.

16. If Ashley could travel to any place in the world, she would go to
A. France
B. China
C. Peru
D. Indiana
E. None of the Above (Please insert Ashley's dream vacation location here)

17. Fill in the Blank. Ashley wants to be a ___________________ when she grows up (more than one answer is acceptable)

18. True or False. Ashley's ears are pierced

19. What is Ashley's favorite television show?

20. Final Question. Please write a short paragraph that includes a few of Ashley's favorite things not mentioned above.

Mill this over...

"Unsurprisingly, the game is also faring well on Xbox Live, with more than 2.7 million gamers having had a go online--over a third of the 7 million total registered Live users. Forty million hours of online games, which adds up to 4,500 years, have been played in the first week across the globe, with almost 30 million achievements unlocked."

That's the quote. The in-laws internet is somewhat unreliable.

It just amazes me that FORTY MILLION man-hours were played in the first seven days. That might be enough time to build a pyramid, or at least Stonehenge. And yet we spent it fighting for online glory and water-cooler bragging rights.

Second thought: bullet-hole stickers. What exactly are they trying to communicate? The world may never know.

How are our San Diegian Gimbel's?

Anyone hear any word from the San Diego branch of the Gimbel Family? Just hoping that someone has heard that everyone is okay in that neck of the woods. They have evacuated over 200,000 people from San Diego county and the fires are continuing pretty strong in San Diego county, Orange County and Malibu (The sky is red and hazy here because of all the fires)

"About Halo 3"

I edited the Halo quote below. It makes more sense now.

Cleveland Rocks!

Richard just got a call from one of the judges he interviewed with and he got the job! He is going to be a clerk next year for a federal judge in Cleveland. I will post later about all the wonderful things in Cleveland to get you all excited to visit us!!!

After his clerkship, we'll move to Hong Kong and Richard will work for the firm that he worked for last summer.

I love my husband Richard and we are excited for this next adventure!

Found this gem of a quote from Gamespot: "about Halo 3."

Ashley's Eleventh Birthday Bash

Today Ashley is eleven. That is so incredible. She is now almost as tall as Grandma Claudia. Ashley is in fifth grade this year, which is unbelieveable to me, since I was just in fifth grade myself.

It seems like I just met you Ashley. You were so cute and so smart at four years old. I met you in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with the help of a little brown teddy bear. It was the day your mom and dad got married.

I hate being so far away from you. I wish I could be close to you every day. One of my most favorite memories is being at the American Girl store and restaurant in Chicago with you. Another favorite memory is when we read the story "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" together at your house. I love the memories of making cards together, and I remember making paper dolls together.

Ashley, every memory of you is a happy one. I wish I could be there to celebrate this special day with you. Grandpa Ed and I love you so very much. Since we can't be there today, you will have to take your Ashley book off the shelf and read it, and remember how much we love and miss you.

Grandpa Ed and Grandma Claudia

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY RICHARD DEAR!

Happy 28th Birthday to my dearest Richard. Richard is such a wonderful husband and has been so incredibly supportive and kind during our entire marriage, but particularly during these last few months when life has been very busy. I am blessed everyday that he wanted to marry me! I thought I would highlight some of the wonderful things that make Richard incredible.

R is for righteous, for that’s what Richard is.
He keeps his eyes closed during the prayer
And is humble like the kids

I is for ice cream, for which Richard is always game.
He loves ice cream with cookies the best
And always shares, which isn’t lame

C is for caring, Richard cares for people small and big.
He loves listening and sharing with all around
And even loves animals, like dogs, cats…even pigs!

H is for Hott, Richard is hott with two t’s
I bet you that he is blushing now
And embarrassed, but I love him so please!

A is for academic, for Richard is as smart as they come
His keen mind amazes me and he works so hard
And he can remember things very well, his mind is tight like a drum

R is for riotous, for Richard is so funny, he’s a riot
My tummy hurts from laughing together all day,
And I bet you he could do stand up at the Hyatt.

D is for Darling, for Richard is so sweet and cute
He is the most adorable boy I know
And he dances around the kitchen well to boot!

(Sorry, no pictures, my laptop is crazy right now!)

Family friends

You guys remember the straight days of sam? I forget how many in a row it was but it was in the 200's I think. I think for that year he was over somewhere close to 350 days. I think sam wins the GFBBFF (Gimbel Family Best Best Friend Forever) award. Who's your nominee?

My new mansion... anyone want to loan me some money?

Here is a building in Shelbyville for sale... only $160,000. It would take some time to fix up, but it'd be a fun project to work on in my spare time and I could have all you guys over at the same time. Just send your checks to 3443 S Burks Ct, Bloomington, IN 47401

Ryan's family summer adventure of '08 or How my mother dresses me funny

I'm thinking about buying this car for 100 dollars






to compete in this event next summer.

i'm not sure when next years event will be, but it will be hella fun. read through the website and discuss.

-ryan

ps. no it doesn't run yet, but its very close. from what i understand just some vacuum lines. famous last words right?

pps. incase my bad to the bone hyperlink doesn't work, its www.24hoursoflemons.com

We took this picture in London. It must have been the sixth or the seventh of July. I remember thinking how cool it would have been to see the race in England. No such luck.

Anyway, I was looking through our pictures and I saw this one and remembered that I wanted to post on it all that time ago. Or did I post on it already? Hmm.

New Car: the Subaru Factor

So after a long wait we got our new car! Two months of buses and walking were quite educational but we are more than super-grateful to Ryan and Bo-J for this most awesome motorcar. It's a 1996 so it's no spring chicken, but it has almost half the miles that the Saturn had when he met his untimely demise. It's 4-wheel drive, is significantly higher off the ground than one would anticipate (making entrance and egress a simple thing for the tall) and has room enough for us to move to San Diego this week without any problems. Awesome!

Thanks to Ryan for being an awesome big brother. Plus we had a blast with you and the girls on Saturday. Bummer that we're moving!

Plus if anyone wants to know how much it costs to get from Provo to Ogden by bus, it's a buck sixty! Seriously, even with a car, I'm temped to take the bus from now on. Save some rubles.

quikie

i've really had a crush on this song. it makes me wish i could play a guitar. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvP-ae4KxXE


-ryan

ps cold war kids.

pps we used to vacation acoustic on you tube

You bloggers stink

Last one to comment is a rotten egg... you have to play no matter what...

My systems analysis and project management professor

"An unusual love story, a unique adventure, and a classic escape plan combine in Escape, the true story of Dwight and Barbara Worker..how they met, fell in love, married..and left a trail of outraged police and Interpol agents, arrested government officials, an embarrassed U.S. Embassy, and at least one dead body behind them. Dwight Worker was the first person since Pancho Villa to escape from the maximum security prison called Lecumberri in Mexico City. Through this lightening-paced account of what life inside a Mexican prison is really like, we relive with him the dramatic events leading up to his arrest and "trial" in Mexico City; his first hand confrontation with beatings, filth, rape, and extortion; his refusal to "cooperate" with prison commandos...a refusal that resulted in violent torture and a near-fatal stabbing. The engrossing narrative then takes the reader deeper and deeper inside this "inescapable" prison and its politics as Dwight describes the behind-the-scenes events Americans never hear of: a U.S. Embassy spokesman on the take from a Mexican lawyer; a corrupt network of U.S. trained narcotics agents with lucrative "connections" of their own; and a group of some 500 American prisoners, many of whom epitomize the plight of the stoned generation..passive, dependent, inarticulate, and in Dwight's words, "doped to the eyelids". Barbara, in alternating chapters explains how they met, their courtship, their plans for marriage and for freedom."

This is the description I found for my professors book, which was also made into a tv movie. I think he was arrested for drug smuggling. This stuff makes me laugh.

Happy Birthday, Betsey

A little early, I know but I wanted to be the first to wish you a very happy birthday. I'm thinking about you and hoping that you have a very enjoyable day tomorrow, October 4th.

In honor of you -- a picture montage of whatever I have on my computer.

xo!
-Your sister

Dream Job

Marjorie started her new job yesterday. Karl is starting a new job in December. Ryan recently changed positions within his company, Edward and Meridth have new jobs on the horizon. I've got a new "job" coming up in 8 weeks as a mom. All this started me thinking about what my "dream job" would be. If I had no constraints at all, what would I want to be doing with my time?

Initially, I thought that I would be good as a professional television watcher. I love T.V. I'm have a very low standard at what television shows I enjoy watching. I can watch Ken Burns "The War" just as easily as I could watch Brett Michaels Rock of Love. It is all good to me. But then I realized that I start feeling a little sick if I watch more than 5 hours of television. I start feeling physically ill. I don't think that is a job I could do everyday for 8 hours a day.

Then, I decided that I would be a good baker. I would like to own a bakery and make delicious yummy cupcakes and treats all day long. I enjoy trying out new recipies and I really love to eat cupcakes.

But then I thought about working for my favorite radio show "This American Life" and decided that it would be a close race between owning a bakery and working on This American Life.

So how about all of you? What are your dream jobs? What would you do with yourself if you had no constraints?

Celebreality

I am catching a quick bite at the Detroit airport last week when I look to my left and Vince Neil is sitting beside me. I know what you are thinking, Vince Neil doesn’t really constitute “celebrity” status because he appeared on the surreal life but for a few of us he is better known as the lead singer for heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.

Question to the family, what other "celebrity" run-ins has the family had over the years?

UAW recesses strike after reaching tentative agreement with General Motors

UAW negotiators reached a tentative agreement with General Motors at 3:05 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26.

The strike by union members was recessed at 4 a.m., and workers will report for work beginning with second shift today. Certain skilled trades workers may be notified to report to work earlier by management at their facilities.

“We’re proud of this tentative agreement and we look forward to getting into the field and discussing it with our membership,” UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said.

The UAW International Executive Board and the UAW GM National Negotiating Committee -- made up of elected representatives from UAW GM locations throughout the country -- have unanimously recommended ratification of the agreement.

“We reached this agreement because of the extraordinary solidarity of our membership, and through a tremendous amount of hard work by the committee they elected to negotiate a new contract,” said UAW Vice President Cal Rapson, director of the union’s GM Department.

Details of the agreement are being withheld pending ratification.

UAW Calls National Strike Against GM

DETROIT (AP) -- Thousands of United Auto Workers walked off the job at General Motors plants around the country Monday in the first nationwide strike against the U.S. auto industry since 1976.
UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said that job security was the top unresolved issue, adding that the talks did not stumble over a groundbreaking provision establishing a UAW-managed trust that will administer GM's retiree health care obligations. Gettelfinger complained about "one-sided negotiations."

"It was going to be General Motors' way at the expense of the workers," Gettelfinger said at a news conference. "The company walked right up to the deadline like they really didn't care."

Gettelfinger added that the union and GM's management would return to the table Monday.

Workers walked off the job and began picketing Monday outside GM plants after the late morning UAW strike deadline passed. The UAW has 73,000 members who work for GM at 82 U.S. facilities, including assembly and parts plants and warehouses.

General Motors Corp. had been pushing hard in the negotiations for the health care trust -- known as a Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association, or VEBA -- so it could move $51 billion in unfunded retiree health costs off its books. GM has nearly 339,000 retirees and surviving spouses.

"This strike is not about the VEBA in any way shape or form," Gettelfinger said at an afternoon news conference in Detroit.

"The No. 1 issue here is job security," Gettelfinger later said, adding that the union also was fighting to preserve workers' benefits.

GM spokesman Dan Flores said the automaker was disappointed in the UAW's decision to call a national strike.

"The bargaining involves complex, difficult issues that affect the job security of our U.S. work force and the long-term viability of the company," he said. "We remain fully committed to working with the UAW to develop solutions together to address the competitive challenges facing GM."

It remained to be seen what effect the strike would have on the automaker and consumers. The company has sufficient stocks of just about every product to withstand a short strike, according to Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis for J.D. Power and Associates.

Worker Anita Ahrens burst into tears as hundreds of United Auto Workers streamed out of a GM plant in Janesville, Wis.

"Oh my God, here they come," said Ahrens, 39. "This is unreal."

Ahrens has seven years at the plant, where she works nights installing speakers in sport utility vehicles. She waited outside the building Monday for her husband, Ron Ahrens, who has worked there for 21 years.

The couple has three children, including a college freshman, and Ahrens worried about how they would pay their bills.

"This is horrible, but we're die-hard union, so we have to," Ahrens said. "We got a mortgage, two car payments and tons of freaking bills."

Gettelfinger said he believed the UAW's leadership owed "our membership an answer as to why they're out there."

"This is as serious as anything that any of us do," he said. "There's not one person on this stage ... that wanted to see these negotiations end in a strike. Who wins in a strike? But again, you can be pushed off a cliff, and that's what we feel like happened here."

Despite the strike, GM stock rose a penny to $34.95 in midday trading.

NITE GARAGE PIC.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

34 years ago today, Ed and Claudia were married! Congratulations Mom and Dad! I think you need to scan some of those great old wedding photos and put them on the blog! I think you should take a picture of yourselves today side-by-side with one from the day you got married!

Congratulations mom and dad! We are glad you got married! We are glad you had us kids! We love you both very much!

just something to think about

i just kind of enjoy statistics in general and was forwarded a link to www.zipskinny.com. It's kind of interesting. anyway, here is a little comparison


-ryan




General Information:
ZIP 46733 84403
Population: 19,046 34,976
Density*: 110.8 961.8
Housing Units: 7,642 13,071
Land Area (sq. mi.): 171.9 36.4
Water Area (sq. mi.): 0.3 0.0
* People per square land mile
Educational Achievement:
ZIP 46733 84403
<9th grade: 3.9% 4.7%
9-12th: 10.2% 8.8%
H.S. grad: 48.0% 21.3%
Some coll.: 19.7% 27.3%
2 yr deg.: 7.2% 7.4%
4 yr deg.: 6.4% 19.9%
Grad/prof: 4.7% 10.5%
H.S.+: 86.0% 86.5%
4 yr+: 11.1% 30.4%
Marital Status:
ZIP 46733 84403
Never married: 22.3% 25.9%
Married: 59.3% 57.8%
Separated: 1.1% 1.5%
Widowed: 7.8% 5.3%
Divorced: 9.6% 9.6%
Stability/Newcomer Appeal:
ZIP 46733 84403
Same home 5+ yrs: 63.1% 48.5%
Household Income:
ZIP 46733 84403
<$10,000: 5.9% 7.6%
$10,000-$14,999: 5.9% 5.5%
$15,000-$24,999: 13.8% 12.4%
$25,000-$34,999: 14.3% 13.5%
$35,000-$49,999: 20.3% 19.2%
$50,000-$74,999: 21.9% 19.5%
$75,000-$99,999: 11.4% 8.8%
$100,000-$149,999: 4.6% 7.8%
$150,000-$199,999: 1.2% 2.8%
$200,000+: 0.6% 3.1%
Median: $41,829 $43,067
Occupation:
ZIP 46733 84403
Mgt./Prof.: 22.5% 36.3%
Service: 14.9% 13.9%
Sales/Office: 22.4% 27.1%
Fish./Farm./Forest.: 0.7% 0.3%
Constr./Extr./Maint.: 11.5% 9.0%
Prod./Trans.: 28.1% 13.4%
Unemployment/Poverty:
ZIP 46733 84403
Unemployed: 2.4% 4.3%
Below Pov. Line: 5.3% 10.3%
Race:
ZIP 46733 84403
Hispanic/Latino: 4.9% 14.6%
White*: 94.1% 79.9%
Black*: 0.2% 1.3%
Native American*: 1.0%
Asian*: 0.2% 1.8%
HI/Pac. Isl.*: 0.2%
Other*: 0.1%
Multi*: 0.4% 1.5%
* Does not include individuals in this racial group who identify as Hispanic/Latino.
Age/Sex:
ZIP 46733 84403
Males: 49.3% 49.7%
Females: 50.7% 50.3%
Median Age: 35.7 30.0

Order your advance copy TODAY!

One of the projects that I have completed at my job is to help with the editing and production of this book, "Fiscal Challenges: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Budget Policy" Thre is a very nice "thank you" to me at the beginning and I must say that I am very proud of all the work that I did on it! Don't you think this is going to be on the top-seller list for Amazon.com?

Just wanted to share with you all!

Love and such

Dinner Tonight?

So our realtor got us a crock pot as our closing gift. I've never had one nor had I ever used one so we'd thought we'd fire it up today since Brandon is actually in town this week. We went with a pork roast with potatoes covered with a ranch sauce comprised of cream of chicken soup, cream cheese and ranch seasoning. The house smells pretty good. It's been cooking for about 3 hours. And by the looks of the clock, we'll be eating in one hour and 56 minutes.







We'll let you know how it tastes.

xo!
-M

Karl's week of food

Monday
8:30 am – Vanilla yogurt and granola (8oz yogurt, 2oz granola)
1:00 pm – tuna salad (tuna, mayonnaise, ranch, relish) not a sandwich because we have no bread (6oz), apple
10:30 pm – two spoonfuls of peanut butter, two chicken kabobs (chicken, green and red peppers, zucchini) with 2 cups rice

Tuesday
12:35 am – One more chicken kabob
12:46 am – Haagen-Dazs caramel ice cream (2 cups) it was light by the way
8:55 am – Yogurt and granola same as yesterday
4:30 pm – Two bowls of Honey Bunches of Oates with vanilla clusters (skim milk)
6:00 pm – Pb&j (I tend to make a pretty heavy pb&j. If my memory serves me correctly I got this from Ryan who does the same) and some milk straight from the carton.

Aside: I try to drink from the container whenever possible. I also only use one Tupperware container as a bowl/plate. Whenever I’m done I wash it and the spoon I use and put them back in my drawer. I figure if everyone did it we would never have dishes. Not everyone else is on the same page though.

8:30 pm – 6 inch spicy Italian on wheat from subway
11:30 pm – 2 orders of grilled stake taquitos, a caramel apple empanada and some of emily’s diet mt. Dew

Wednesday
8:15 am – yogurt and granola again
12:45 pm – two slices of sbarro’s pizza from wright food court, my freshman eatery. Very nostalgic.
6:45 pm – Had a naked juice at work… the protein one. 40 grams of protein in a 12oz drink… cool dude.
9:45 pm – 2.5 cups of tuna noodle helper, some Parmesan flavor. 2 chocolate cookies
10:45 pm – 2 pb&js and some milk

Thursday
8:30 am – yogurt and granola
4:45 pm – two sugar cookies
5:10 pm – bowl of honey bunches of oats with peaches. (skim milk)
6:15-9:00 pm – We had a picnic and I had lots of cookies (probably 10-20) some potato salad (about 2 cups) some barbeque chips and a chicken breast… and two root beers… I ate way too much.

Friday
9:15 am – one packet of apple cinnamon oatmeal
12:10 pm – two chicken breast deli meat sandwiches… and two more cookies
7:10 pm – Naked juice at work again… protein one again
10:00 pm – Baconator value meal and a jr. bacon cheeseburger from wendy’s… I had a root beer with the meal… I know I’m fat… leave me alone. These wendy’s commercials lately though have been really stupid and I’m thinking about boycotting them too.

Saturday
10:10 am – yogurt and granola
11:00 am – two bowls of honey bunches of oats with peaches (skim milk)
12:00 pm – two chicken breast deli meat sandwiches
4:00 pm – Some cereal samples from the sample lady… like a handful
7:00 pm – 9 chocolate turtle things. These teenagers outside of Kroger were selling them trying to make money for basketball uniforms. How could I say no? Not to mention I had cash on my, which I never do.
10:15 pm – Someone’s leftover breadstick, 2 bowls of honey bunches of oats with vanilla clusters
11:20 pm – Big can of Bush’s baked beans… I didn’t finish the whole thing, but still… I probably shouldn’t have eaten it.

Sunday
9:45 am – yogurt and granola
12:00 pm – two chicken breast deli meat sandwiches
9:15 pm – some gummy worms
11:15 pm – about half a pizza and four breadsticks and diet soda from pizza express

3:24 a.m. Monday morning insomnia

Well hello everyone. What? A post from Betsey? at 3:24 in the morning? What is going on? Actually in Indiana, mom and dad are up for their day, so I thought I should get up too. Okay, not really. I woke up at 2:15 and just couldn't get back to sleep. I've been catching up on some emails and thought I would post to the old Gimbel Family Forum. I thought I would give you all a weekend wrap-up from Team Hawkins. Keep you posted on our exciting lives here in LA. I will title it, Top 10 activities from Team Hawkins during the weekend of September 14 through September 16.

10. Friday drive to Fresno. One of my roommates from my time in Washington D.C. got married and had an open house in Fresno, where she grew up. Fresno isn't really a pretty town, and it is kind of in the middle of nowhere. It wasn't exactly on my top 10 list of places to go in CA, but it was nice to see my friends April and Cord (the bride and groom)

9. In Fresno, Richard and I wanted to find a yummy restaurant to eat at. We have been trying to limit our out-to-eat activities and only try new restaurants, or something that we are really looking forward to. Frankly, this is because we end up eating out at La Salsa all the time because it is close and we are lazy. So, we drove around Fresno for a while and ended up at Red Robin. Man, that place is a gut-buster. Delicious, but the rest of the night, we both felt sick.

8. Saturday was the bowling and cupcake extravaganza for my college friend Emmalee's birthday. I have to say, although it was great to celebrate Emmy's birthday, the highlight was the fact that I won bowling! I even broke 100 (okay, my score was 106, but still...over 100). Richard thinks that with daily practice, I could have a career. I think the best part was that I totally came from behind, with two strikes right at the end and won. I seriously was in last place the entire time.

7. Okay, since the last one really didn't focus on the b-day celebration as it should, I thought I could at least devote two highlights to the birthday party. Emmy is turning 28 on the 18th and apparently 28 is the year of the kitchen products. We gave her a pink cupcake carrier to transport all her yummy treats and her brother and sister-in-law gave her a deviled egg tray, for displaying her deviled eggs. She promised to invite us all over for deviled eggs and cupcakes. Yummy! (by the way, did you know that Casey makes the best deviled eggs? Have her make you some...seriously!)

6. This should really be the best highlight, number 1 from the weekend...but I seem to be following a chronological order rather than an excitement order...so we'll just keep it here. Saturday night we went to a lecture with IRA GLASS!!! That is right people. IRA GLASS! My NPR boyfriend. Richard is slightly threatened. He was discussing radio and storytelling at USC. He talked and shared stories for over an hour and then took questions from the audience. It was a great show and a fun date for me and Richard. Plus it was a cheap date! USC students and staff got in for free! Thank you tuition dollars!

5. We can't ignore the fact that Richard and I managed to squeeze in some very exciting homework this weekend. That is all we are going to say about that.

4. I made Jello! (maybe I am getting sleepy again...this is getting pretty boring!) I found some jello in our pantry and decided to make it. Richard was skeptical and thought that Jello was a lame idea. I convinced him otherwise when I busted out the whipped cream for the top. It was a tasty dessert!

3. Church! Where I said from the stand that I have a mental illness (long story people...this is getting to be a long post. I'm not even going to go into that).

2. Law and Order! The 7th season of L&O SVU is not that great. For every really riveting and exciting episode, there is one episode analyzing Benson or Stabler's psyche. I don't care about them as people! That is the beauty of L&O! You don't have to follow the story line each week, you can just enjoy the 42 minutes of adventure and criminal behavior and then call it a day. I don't care if Stabler has anger management issues and his wife left him! We had to watch two episodes to compensate for the one boring Stabler-based episode.

1. Richard! I love spending the whole weekend with my husband! He is the number one highlight because he is my favorite part of the weekend. Plus he is the best husband ever. I got out of bed at 2:14 and went to the living room. 10 minutes later, he got out of bed and joined me. He is right now sleeping on the other couch. He makes himself miserable for me! Isn't that just so sweet.

Maybe I should try to go back to sleep for a few hours.

Let's hear it for MARJORIE!

I just got a call from my big sister and she got a job offer as a global marketing director (or something like that. I'm terrible at remember things like that) She will have a job again! I'm sure Brandon is probably more excited than she is.

We love you, Marjorie and are so incredibly proud of you!


xo
-K

Rude professor

I realize professors are busy, but I found this email to be pretty rude so I responded accordingly.

RE: Gerwigs

With all the recent traffic on the blog about the Gerwigs, I thought I'd share an anecdote.

We made many really cool friends in England, but one of our very favorites were the Bassetts. They're about our age and have the funniest four year old girl and a little baby named Oscar. Anyway, we were eating dinner once and we got to chatting about where we were from. I mentioned I was from Indiana and Ryan casually mentiones that he has only known one other person from Indiana.

"Yeah, there was this elder in my mission...Gerwig. He was really into hunting. Kind of a weird guy, always killing squirrels and stuff."

I was gobsmacked. Ryan had served in Greece with Mike Gerwig. And he thought he was weird too.

It's a small world after all.

Christmas List

I know this is a bit early, but I was doing the Christmas Exchange List for my family, so I decided to do the Gimbel list too to ease all our future consciences. I used Edward's 10 sided die to make sure it was random. (Nerd) So here it is:

Ryan gives to Brandon
Casey gives to Richard
Margie gives to Betsey
Brandon gives to Emily
Betsey gives to Meridth
Richard gives to Margie
Edward gives to Karl
Meridth gives to Casey
Karl gives to Ryan
Emily gives to Edward

Hooray for the holiday seasons.

love,

Meridth

ps. Miss you all

FOOD!!!

So I know it might sound boring but I think i'm going to record for you all what I eat in the next week. I think one of two things will happen. You will be amazed at all the junk I eat and it will stimulate some good conversation. You will become more aware of what you eat and it will help Gimbel Nation become more healthy. That or I will be self-conscience about all the peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches I eat and decide to eat better.

Ryan's quick quiz

The answer to one of Karl's questions shocked me a bit. 3 speeding tickets Karl? really? WOW.

I bet no one in the family can guess how many speeding tickets i have had and for what amounts over the limit. I'd be willing to put some money on this one. I'll give you a little hint. i have never had a speeding ticket out here in Utah.

-ryan

GARAGE PIC 2.0