Happy 36th Birthday Travis

Hope you have a great day. You were my only red head, blue eyed baby. I Love you very much. Mom

Tubby- T-Dog- Bitchin Bill - Travis William Ostermeir

My favorite Aunts and Santa

These two are my favorite Aunts. Aunt Lucy and Aunt Betty. I seen both over the weekend. My Aunt Betty is not very well. She is in the hospital struggling for every breath. She knew I was there. All of her kids, grand kids and great grand kids were there. Please say a prayer for her to recover. I spent a lot of time at her and Uncle Herb's house playing with all my cousins. Her kids are awesome. The whole family is so close. I envy them. Charlie, Ivan, Jimmy, Mike, Lena and Sharon had a good time reminiscing. Aunt Betty is trying to convince Santa that she was a good girl. I have to vouch for her. Santa was none other than Jerry Stine. He dresses up and entertains the folks at the area nursing homes. His family is related to Uncle Herb and we spent a lot of time with them too. His brother Runt worked at our gas station in the late 60 or 70 s. My best girl friend married their brother Bob. Aunt Lucy has a terrible sinus infection. She is feeling better but doesn't sound like it yet. She came to the restaurant to have breakfast with Carroll and I. So Aunties, get well soon. Carroll is schedule for a Colonoscopy Wednesday. He had nose surgery again the day after Thanksgiving. I hope this is the last of his excitement. My sister-in-law Izola had a stroke November 17, 2007. She is home now and improving everyday. The stroke affected her right side and her speech. She is talking more everyday. Duane has been wonderful thru all of this. She is the best. January 7, 2008, I start getting series of three injections in both of my knees. The Doctor says I'm too young for double knee replacements. I fell 3 times over the dishwasher this summer. I don't even want to go there but one more trip over the dishwasher and I will have to have a new one. I wish I had been born with more grace! Well, this sounds like a medical journal. I hope 2008 will be good to all of us.

Yes Santa, Iv'e been very very Good

Family Reunion Videos

I finally got these on with Ethan's help. My grand kids are smarter than me when it comes to computers. At the family reunion, Tatum was running around with my camera. She is a whiz taking pictures. She learned how to take videos and change the pictures to black and white. I had no clue. Delaney and Maddie, my great nieces are singing Unwritten. Maddie is 3 yrs old and Delaney is six. Watching this just lites up my soul. Of course one video is of my Baby boy Travis and his buddy Robert Withlow. Travis's theme song is I've got Friends in Low Places. What a hoot! He also dances with his Mother every year at the Reunion. Sometimes Buck will two step with me . One of my greatest joys. I wish everyone could have a family reunion like ours. We have so much fun those three days in September.

Delaney and Maddie singing UNWRITTEN

Travis and Robert singing?

Videos from the reunion kids playing

As I've Matured

Click here: As I've Matured I don't know if the link will work but this answers some of my whys. I love the song with this, Wonderful World. Rani would sing this to me when she was little. I recieved this from my sister Dixie. God knew what I needed when he took Jeannie from me. And he blessed me with five grandchildren that year(Erik, Rani,Ethan,Alex,and Karlee). As I've Matured...

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic and give in...

I've learned that one good turn gets most of the blankets. I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people are just jackasses. I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and it only takes suspicion, not proof, to destroy it. I've learned that whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed. I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to others -they are more screwed up than you think. I've learned that depression is merely anger without enthusiasm. I've learned that it is not what you wear; it is how you take it off. I've learned that you can keep vomiting long after you think you're finished. I've learned to not sweat the petty things, and not pet the sweaty things. I've learned that ex's are like fungus, and keep coming back. I've learned age is a very high price to pay for maturity. I've learned that I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it. I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, unless we are celebrities. I've learned that artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity. I've learned that 99% of the time when something isn't working in your house, one of your kids did it I've learned that there is a fine line between genius and insanity. I've learned that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon and all the less important ones just never go away. And the real pains in the ass are permanent.

Why

Here I an, 61 years old and I have many whys. Why does there have to be so much fighting in the world? Why do people have to die of dreaded diseases? Why does God take good people and leave the rotten ones to dwell on this earth. Why do I have to have diabetes and take shots everyday? Why does Carroll have to have Osier Webber Syndrome? Why can’t my Mother love me? Am I a lot like my Dad? She accused me of it several times. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? She hated my Dad and still does. I never heard my Dad said one-thing bad about Mom. The only thing he said is he didn’t understand how she could treat her daughters the way she did. My Grandmother Lockart wasn’t like that. She was the lovingest person I know. She made all of us grandchildren feel so special. Uncle Paul told me one time that I was the apple of Grandma’s eye. Nevertheless, we (23 grandchildren) all were. Why can’t Mom call and just ask if we are ok instead of pretending to know we are ok. Teresa told her that Carroll was having surgery on his nose again, so she knows, but why can’t she just call and ask about him. She has never called us about anything. But she did make one trip to the hospital to see Carroll when he was hurt falling off the boat. She doesn’t really know him or my stepchildren and grandchildren. She knows only what people tell her. Jeannie cried when she was dying and wanted to know why mom didn’t love her, why she didn’t call. Jeannie said, “What did I do “? I tried to reassure her that we didn’t do anything to be treated like that, it was just Mom‘s way. Which sucks? I would like to knock some sense into her head but it wouldn’t help? She had five daughters not just one. Why couldn’t Carol offer her condolence to Angie and Keri when Rick died? Why wasn’t I invited to Carol’s wedding to Perry? The rest of my sibling were. Too many whys. I thought your family was supposed to be the most important thing in the world. I know mine is and my extended families like cousins. Aunts, Uncles and close friends. I can’t imagine not talking to my kids at least once a week. Toots and I talk about every other day. Travis does not talk to me as often or me to him. He was complaining about Angie’s mom talking several times a day. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with that. I told him maybe I should call more often and he said oh no, Mom, you’re just right. However, this man of few words does get wordy occasionally and will talk on the phone to me for 45 min. When he does talk, he has important things to say. One thing I know is that my children, grandchildren, nieces and nephew love me unconditionally and I love them with all my heart. That is what makes my world go around in my world of Whys.

Village of Owaneco Halloween Party

I think this is the 3rd year for the Halloween Party. We have lots of little kids here again. Tom Baldock and his friends did a great job decorating the old gym. They had a spook house last year and improved on it this year. It was a success! My Tatum won 2nd place in the 9-10 year old as a fried egg. Her Nana Kathy made her costume out of a sheet of white foam and the big yellow Tupperware bowl. Lauren went as sorceress. I don't know who the little Dracula was but his older sister was his bride. Of course the Tin man from Oz was none other that Harold Friend who just turn 90 yrs old. My grand kids came home on a sugar high but had tons of fun.

Harvest time

Nick and Austin were excited about the corn field across the road. We went over and borrowed a couple of ears from the Waddingtons. Nick was asking if he could eat this corn. We can but it must be processed first. He thought it was sweet corn like his mama fixes for supper. The corn is planted in April as soon as it is safe from frost. The farmers hope they get enough rain to make it grow. Most corns are hybrids, that makes them drought resistant, produce large ears and other things. They make many things out of corn. Even make gasoline to run our cars. We grow alot of corn and beans in Illinois. Below are some pictures. My Dad along with both of my grandparents were farmers.

bean field

Tractor with chisle plow

grain bins for storage

The Owaneco elevator

loading the corn to take to elevator

The corn picker with a hopper full

Corn fields across from our house

Medical Field?

Sid hurt his arm or wrist over the weekend on his bike and hurt it again playing football. Toots called the doctor and was waiting for the Dr to call back this morning so they could get a x-ray. They sent her and Sid to the building connected to Memorial Hospital for the x-ray. Here it is at 8:50 PM and there has been no one to read the damm x-rays all day? Two trauma hospitals within blocks of each other and no one to read the X-ray! I almost can understand if it had been T'ville Hospital. It is a good band aide stop then send them on to Spfld. Sid is just a tuff little boy! Thank God it is not a matter of life or death. I let you know what happens if they get the x-rays read!

More on Family Reunion

FAMILY REUNION 2007

My son-in-law Doug taking a power nap

Grandma Retta counting the money so she can bid higher on a ugly bird house. Beverly was bidding against her. But the cousins kept bringing the money! Birdhouse went for $350.00

Travis and Buck. Buck and Jungle cook all the meat.

Matthew, Grant and Kilson giving the hula hoop a whirl

Step-cousins that are best friends

My beautiful blue-eyed Tatum

Ryan and Angie from Lousiana.

Delanley and Nick playing in the horseshoe pit

At breakfast Nancy and Phil

That is my cousin Joyce cuddling up with Grandpa Carroll

Lee Fisher, Crandpa Carroll cousin Aunt Lucy and Norma Lou

Keri and Dixie Nick and Austin

My cousin Jr and his friend Sue

My cousin Ruth Lucy

Maria and Lonny cutting the rug on Saturday night

Jan and Roy and Marian

Tatum on her cooler skooter

Kilson and Dave Brother and sisterly love Toots and Trav

Robert's cute little girl Maddie Murdle

The hummers didn't seem to mind all the family flitting around.