XM Radio Deal

Ed/Karl: My buddy at work was telling me about a new promotional deal with XM Radio where you can get one year of service for $77. (50% off) I called 1-800-347-0600 and asked for a sales person and it worked. (Promotional code: zwinback) - Brandon

looking for a new car dad?

Saw this and thought of you. buy in is 30 grand. something to think about.

ryan

A Very Funny Website

Richard found this site. We had a good laugh about it. Basically because we saw ourselves in it.

Another Typical Day in the Gas Chamber

So everybody keeps asking me how Edward has been doing in Basic. How do you answer a question like that? My impression of Basic Training is that it really really sucks for everybody, but that it's a necessary evil. So... I just got a letter from Edward today talking about his experience in the gas chamber and though I'd share:

"We had a few hours briefing about the operation of our chem mask. Pretty typical stuff. Most people were a mixture of nervous/excited. Through the trees we could see the squat brown building lurking like a beast. I personally am not especially fond of gas masks, it feels like you're breathing through a straw, but I can tell you it beats the alternative. They have a sliding metal door and a drill Sergeant stands there telling us that we're all going to die.

Inside, the walls are damp concrete, kind of like a basement. The lights are dim or maybe it seems that way through the gas or the fogged up glass of the mask.

Suddenly we are instructed to break the seal of our mask and expose our nose and mouth and recite our name, rank and social security number. After a brief burning sensation and a moment of panic I resealed my mask clearing out the bad air. My eyes burned, my nose dripped mucous, I was breathing hard. I could feel the burning now on my neck and hands and I was particularly concerned almost panicky about the next part.

They rushed us over near the exit and shouted for us to remove our masks. Taking a deep breath I slipped my head out from the straps. I pounced on the first three lines of the 'Soldiers Creed,' the chant we say every morning. Gagging, I fought my way through lines 4 and 5. Up to line 7 I was okay and then they threw me out the door.

On hitting the daylight my first thought was that I couldn't breathe. I was breathing only in short little hiccups. Fighting back panic again I walked as calmly as I could, waiving my arms to air-ate my clothes. Then my eyes started burning. Ow. That was the worst part. The only way to clear my eyes was to open them... which stung.

Long story short, five minutes later I was alright. Now about 8 hours later I can still smell it just a touch and the back of my neck still burns. All in all, it wasn't as bad as I expected and I'd have no real hesitation to repeat the experience within the confines of a mission."

So there you have it. A day in the life of Private Gimbel.

Mom's Contribution to the Household

Ed and I had a conversation the other day about our contributions to the household.  Since the axle strike, he has been laid-off from General Motors, and thinks that he is the only reason that things are running so smoothly around the house.  I have to admit that he is really a great help--especially at the end of the grading  period when things are so crazy and hectic for me.  

So anyway... as we were going down the list of all the stuff he's doing; cooking, grocery shopping, cleaning, washing windows, dusting, laundry, scrubbing toilets, shoveling sh--oops I mean snow, painting, organizing his office, working on the garage--the list is endless; he asked me what I'm doing to contribute the the betterment of the family.  

Boy, I really had to think hard.  Of course, the top of the list would be that I'm the family bread-winner!  I get to be the one to pay the bills.  I'm also the our family public relations specialist, AND the social director.  (Now, you know at this point, I am really scrambling to find meaning for my existence.)  

I'm also the acting spiritual liaison for the family, and the communications expert.  On occasion, I even function as the family spell-checker.  I still work in gifts and acquisitions, although he has become much more proficient at ordering via the internet than I.

Anyway, at this point, I can't think of any more pretend jobs that I do that sound funny, but if you can think of any pointless, banal, pseudo-job that I do around the house besides grade papers, do Relief Society or sorority stuff, OR anything that has to do with scrapbooking, or whining, please post your contributions to my cause.  All entries will be taken with a light heart (not on my sleeve!)

Love, Claudia 

Another new Gimbel-Martin-Phipps

I hope that I'm not betraying any confidences when I share this breaking news story! I have been unable to spend much time on the e.gimbel email site because of some ISP difficulties here in Decatur, but I went on the gimbel email while at school, and found a wonderful email from Stacey and David announcing the (I believe it was..) August(?) arrival of a new little brother or sister for Kyle. Stacey included an ultrasound picture, and you can clearly make out the shape! She said that Kyle keeps asking when the baby can come out of her tummy and play. Too cute!

We love you Stacey, and are so excited for you, David and Kyle! Babies bring such happy times. We will need to stay in closer touch, so we can be there for you if you need anything.

CONGRATULATIONS!

They Say It's Your Birthday!

Margie turns 30 today.  It's so hard for me to imagine it's been thirty years since Margie was born because I remember it like it was yesterday.  Margie was the first Gimbel baby born in Janesville, Wisconsin, and the first baby delivered by Doctor O'Brien and cared for by Doctor Nagle.  Everyone at church was so excited to meet her, and I couldn't believe my luck at delivering a little baby girl.  She was SO incredibly beautiful, and just perfect in every way.  

My mother came out to help me care for her, and she could not get over her own little girl having a little girl.  Margie, you were so snugly.  You would just conform your body to my body when I held you, and you loved being cuddled up closely.  And you had a vibrant and exciting personality from the very beginning.

I loved being your mother.  I love that I got to care for you, and nurture you, and I am so proud of you and all your accomplishments.  You are still an incredible person, and I wish that you weren't so far away.  I miss you.

Dad says "Happy Birthday", too and we hope you have a wonderful day.  We will see you next weekend!

Love, from Mom

The Sweet Pickles Saga

As the end of the online auction approached last night, I turned the responsibility for the final bid over to Richard. I was very stressed about winning. Richard convinced me that I needed to wait until less than a minute until the auction was over so that I could guarantee a win! It made me nervous so I played with Nora while Richard refreshed our computer over and over, waiting until the final seconds to bid!

Well, 15 seconds until the auction ends and Richard enters his bid. Unfortunately, e-bay had logged me out due to inactivity! By the time Richard logged me back in, the online auction was over. I had lost. Richard felt so badly about it though that he found another person selling 15 of the books. You could buy all 15 books for $80, without bidding on them. He found the rest of the 11 books on amazon.com. With shipping and handling, I think we ended up spending $140 for all 26 books. I think it was a good investment because I loved those books so much and I am sure that Nora will love them as well.

And just to remind mom what happened to the Sweet Pickles books at our house, they were in a box in the basement that got wet. The books molded and had to be thrown away.

Bidding War

After two separate conversations with Dad and Margie about the Sweet Pickles Books that we had when we were kids, I began a hunt for them on e-bay.

I found someone selling all 26 books! I'm currently in a bidding war with someone for the books. Richard told me that I need to lay low until the sale ends (in about 2 days). I'm so anxious though. I don't want to lose these books!

I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Just looking at the covers of the books on e-bay brought back so many memories! Does anyone remember Goof-Off Goose? Pig Thinks Pink? Me Too Iguana? Fixed By Camel? Jackal Wants Everything?

Classic books that Nora needs to have!!

Here's some pics from the Gimbel Gathering

Falling Behind

This weekend is my cousins wedding... so I just barely got to the computer and am scrambling to catch up to all the zillions of things that have happened. First off Ed, Brandon, Margie, Ryan, Emily HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope you all ate something delicious and did something fun, like construction or something.

Second off it was so good to see you all. I was definitely entertained this past weekend and it was nice to catch up. I especially loved how much Ashley and Chloe loved their new cousin Nora.

Casey.. you and your family are definitely in my thoughts and prayers.

I love you all and I will definitely post some of the pictures I took when I get back to San Diego.

Love,

Meridth

Happy Birthday EMILY!

Here is a picture of Emily (and Karl, Brandon, Margie and Betsey)...HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY! Thanks for being such a wonderful Girlfriend-in-Law!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY!!!!!!!

I just wanted to be the first to wish Emily a very happy birthday!!!  I can't wait to see you and hope your day goes perfectly!!  I tried to put a picture, but it wouldn't let me...

Thank You!!!!

When i got home from work last night, CASEY was too excited to wait for morning. What a great gift!! It means more that you all picked out something of your own for me instead of buying new. thank you very much. i will definitely think of all of you while i wear your shirts although i may have a hard time squeezing into some of them.




thank you all
ryan

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RYAN

Happy 32nd Birthday, Big Brother. I hope that you enjoy your day and know that we're thinking of you!

Tisk Tisk

Just because it's not February anymore doesn't mean you all can just drop off the face of the earth. This blog is in my daily routine and it's very disappointing to see nothing new all the time.

Betsey- I'm sure you and Rich have eaten something interesting recently. Nora is what, 3 months old tomorrow? I hear that's around the time they discover their hands and feet, you can't tell me there's nothing to blog about there.

Claudia- I can understand life in Decatur might not produce too many blog worthy events, but surely with work, church, and living with Ed there must be Something!

OH and I just remembered this past weekend was Nora's blessing right? I haven't heard a word about it yet.

Karl- you have a new job, everyday is an adventure. I get to hear the stories, but surely the Gimbel Family Forum could use some. You could tell them how you didn't come to visit me this weekend in Bloomington, but instead went and saw your boyfriend Sam.

All I'm saying is: I know you're all out there doing things, so blog about them!