September and October, 2004

Nancy and Bob Murdock, Editors - murmuse@erols.com

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CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE:

R.I.P. Peter DiStefano (Bob Murdock) Click

REMEMBERING PETE (Nancy Murdock) Click

TAKING COMFORT (Barbara DiStefano) Click

GREETINGS FROM AFGHANISTAN (Jason Murdock) Click

SUMMER DOINGS (Meredith Murdock) Click

KUDOS FOR THE MUSE (Musers) Click

FAMILY VISITS (Donna Estep) Click

REDFOX AT LAKE SUPERIOR(Darrel Murdock) Click

ALOHA DAYS(Priscilla Januskiewicz) Click

KEEPING BUSY (Joyce Anthony) Click

Click here for Part 2.

Part 2

WISCONSIN: A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE (Lori Turner-Baszich) Click

PRACTICE RUN 2 (Margery Aukstikalnis) Click

BUSY AND HEALTHY (Roy Murdock) Click

READY FOR THE VISIT (Pauline Soberg) Click

MN STATE PARKS #1 (Darrel Murdock) Click

MY KIDS(Nicholaus (Rickey) Murdock) Click

BBQ GET TOGETHER (Nicholaus (Rickey) Murdock) Click

CHICHESTER UPDATE (Cathy Howlett) Click

UPCOMING WEDDING (Carol Murdock) Click

FISH THEME (Valerie Davidson) Click

HOWLETT REUNION 2004 (Bob Murdock) Click

Part 3

GREAT TIME IN NEW ENGLAND (Nancy Murdock) Click

ALL-STAR GAME (Nancy Murdock) Click


Muse Editors, 2003
At the MD. State Fair




"Color on the Move"
Entered by Nancy
in the MD Fair 2004



Peter DiStefano
1942 - 2004

 Peter's Page



R.I.P. Peter DiStefano - August 8, 2004
Bob Murdock

Pete was the loving husband of my sister Barbara. His paralysis was a severe handicap, but he was able to drive a car and got around famously on his scooter. Unfortunately, he fell off the vehicle in July, 2004 and injured his leg seriously - again. This time he was unable to recover, and succumbed in a Syracuse hospital on August 8, 2004 - two days before his 62nd birthday. Besides Barbara, Peter is survived by three sons and two daughters.

Barb and Pete were married June 30, 1986, and lived in Liverpool, N.Y.


REMEMBERING PETE
Nancy Murdock

We will always remember Pete. He was one of a kind! When I think of him, I see the telephone pole with the harmless U.S. flag that triggered such commotion among the local defenders of the telephone laws - and what fun Pete had trying to straighten out the whole blown-up situation, while at the same time keeping his distinctive sense of humor from getting out of control.

He could say some of the most outrageous things! Just when I would think I was following the trail of what he was saying, he would make a left turn and say something that caused a burst of unseemly laughter.

He was a model for the neighborhood of how much a person on a three-wheel drive could accomplish. Until his body began to wind down rapidly, he was always in motion, either in mind or body or both. I recall noticing that he would be busy watering the garden and then would coil the hose easily.

One of my favorite "Pete" memories was one day when Bob and I were in the car and he yelled "Open your trunk!" and came charging over to the car. I had no idea if I had understood correctly, because why would he tell me to open the trunk when we were leaving? But he was frowning and coming purposefully, so I obeyed. He reached into the trunk, pushed hard with his strong arm and hand against the side of the car, and said, "Okay, you can shut it now." He had totally removed a big dent!!! We had been driving it for a couple of years with that eyesore, thinking we didn't want to spend several hundred dollars to get it fixed.

Pete also introduced us to the local flea market, where we bought some of the best knives it has ever been our pleasure to own. We also enjoyed the bagels there.

He was larger than life, and we're glad he had a good life. Barb and his children brought him a lot of happiness and comfort.

But now it was time for him to go. From all we have heard of his situation, it could only end this way. He had a good run while it lasted, and now he is where he can torment the ones in charge of eternity, instead of the local telephone bureaucrats.

May his family be blessed with happy memories of their time together, and may he rest in peace.


TAKING COMFORT
Barbara DiStefano

Thank you for the wonderful eulogy for Pete. I shared it with the kids and they loved it. It is comforting when people remember stories about him. So, these days are rough, but I am trying to focus on his life and all the memories. He truly is in a better place, though he hung on to this place as long as he could, through all kinds of trials.


GREETINGS FROM AFGHANISTAN
Jason Murdock

Well, I have been in Afghanistan for about 3 months now and I have been deployed for about 7 months. I am just outside the province of Kandahar, the heart of Taliban country.

I am involved as one of two mechanics attached to a squad of combat engineers involved in clearing a 174 mile road of landmines and I.E.D's ("Improvised explosion devices") that have been planted throughout 25 years of war in this country. We are working with revolutionary mine detecting vehicles known as the "Buffalo," that has an attached robotic arm to pick up mines. It weighs in at 46,000 pounds and is armor plated to withstand 7.62mm. rounds.

We also have a vehicle called the "Huskie" that carries three detonation trailers and is 7.62mm. armor piercing proof. This vehicle is unique in the sense that it has a weight displacement technology. Whatever it rolls over, it gives 14 pounds pressure, so you can roll over your hand and not break it. It also has mine detection plates, so we use the vehicle to find anti-tank mines, which require about 200 pounds pressure to set them off. This vehicle can drive over them and not set them off, but the trailers can and do.

Once we clear the path, there is a road construction crew behind us, building the road, and we have some Infantry units helping us "take care of the enemy."

The weather is 114 degrees in the shade and about 123-130 degrees in the heat; add 20 degrees more if you want to get close to the ground. It also is the 120 day wind season so there is hot air blowing around all day. The evenings are nice, though.

For 30 days, I stay at a "Fire base," which is a very basic base. Then I go into the Air Force base for 7 days to recuperate. We get showers in the field if the "Log-packs" make it over with water. so far it has been once a week, so we go through a batch of baby wipes.

There is a lot of down-time right now; we are working about 5 hours a day because it gets too hot. So I try to stay cool in the shade. We play cards and drink about 15 quarts of water a day. I eat twice a day, one MRE (Meal Ready to Eat)and one hot meal. You don't want to eat very much in this heat, but I get enough to eat.

I have been informed that my 2 week leave is in August, so they will fly me into Kuwait for 3 days to process, and I plan on going home to Minnesota. My girlfriend and I are planning on going to the North Shore for a week, and I will probably see my dad and mother and friends and family the other week. I am really looking forward to that. I really miss everyone. Being over here does that for you.

Overall, I am proud to be serving my country and helping people out. We are doing many public related good things for these people, and if we don't pull out of here or Iraq, we have the chance to rehabilitate these people like we have done so successfully in Germany and Japan.

I am, of course, counting the days until I come home for good, though. Anyway, I hope all is well with you. Tell everyone I say Hi and that I am doing fine over here.

[Ed. Note: Jason looked great in the pictures Darrel sent us from the 2 week leave.]


SUMMER DOINGS
Meredith Murdock

July 21, Good Meowrning: Even though it is really hot and humid, I manage to exercise every day at about 9 pm with the A/C on. NaTT even bought me a new exercise ball (the big vinyl kind) to replace the two the cats popped. I now put the ball up on my bike when I'm not using it. Oh yes, I bought new snacks last night for summertime: a huge bag of baby carrots and a bag of green grapes.

Also, I'm working on my writing - just renewed my membership to WVU last night.

Aug. 13, School Dayz: I always have something good happen on Friday the 13th. Today I got the used book I needed for a class. The first homework assignment is due Tuesday, and now I can do the homework tomorrow (along with the homework for my two OTHER classes). Not only did I get the book on time, but this is the used paperback I ordered instead of the $45 new paperback, and the spine isn't even cracked! No one has ever read this book!! EEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Opening Ceremonies: Um - I don't even know how to state my amazement. First of all - that stadium is the most beautiful structure I have ever seen. And the water idea just blows me away. Then drummers from two eras, the boy in the paper boat, and the fantastic art show beginning with the stylized head and culminating with the brilliant "cube man" who practised for a year. Cube man - the practice was worth it.

Wow.

Well, my commercial is over - back to the ceremonies!!

Aug. 16, Dinner - YAY! : The sales department ordered Pollo Loco, and offered the extra combos to anyone who wanted one. 2 pieces of chicken, tortillas, rice and beans! Yum! I wish it was 5:30 right now!

Aug. 18: Writing Class: I am having a fantastic time in writing class. I go home, watch All My Children while I eat dinner, and then I head to my desk. Thing is, the cats had to remind me to feed them last night - and then they made me feed them 2 more times. I guess they got too hungry, even though I was only an hour late! Well, time to head out for the bus home.


KUDOS FOR THE MUSE
Musers

Gene Murdock: I just read the latest copy of the Most Enjoyable Muse. It was great!! Thanks for all the work.

I think I will try to send periodic mail to Jason R. while he is in Afghanistam. But are there any other of our family descendants that you know of in Afghan or Iraq? [Ed. Note: Please let us know if you have anyone in those areas.]

Priscilla Januskiewicz: Thanks for doing the Prouty Connection page and Mum's web page. They are beautiful! I will look for more material later on Mum. We have lots of photos. I have another Blackberry Dispatch issue, also.


FAMILY VISITS
Donna Estep

Julu 31: We have been very busy with our son Kurt and his wife Sarah being here. We expect Jamin next week as well. Summer always flies by so quickly and every week seems chock full. We also just returned from Chris' family's annual reunion in North Carolina. As you may remember, he comes from a big family of six siblings and most of them, their children, and their grandchildren gather annually at Holden Beach, NC in July.

Thank you for all you are doing with Mum's web page. It looks wonderful and we appreciate it. When I have time I will contribute something to it along with some pictures. She turns 93 in November. At her 80th birthday my sisters and I all wrote songs and poems in her honor. Would you perhaps enjoy reading a couple of those? Some of them were humorous.
REDFOX AT LAKE SUPERIOR
Darrel Murdock

We continued to capitalize on the outdoor weather as we toured the North Shore again, capturing many pics, movie clips and animations with both of our digital cameras; relishing the ability to instantly view the results, while never spending money on film or developing.

We have camped at three state parks with waterfalls, and visited two others with trails to hidden falls. Now with so much digi-data of scenic Minnesota we will be switching to other outdoor activities for the next three weekends. First we will go to the free Como Zoo, taking about 160 megs of animal clips and pics to add to our growing inventory. Next we will go to the Renna-something Festival and ride on the elephants, watch the side shows and shoot some hanging gourds with arrows. Then we will visit the Minnesota State fair and eat all kinds of food-on-a-stick and see the farm animal stars.

The weekend after that I will have minor surgery and recover at home in front of many newly-burned movie CDs while floating on Percosets and receiving TLC from Kathy, a former nurse who is of course also my travel-buddy Redfox, as well as my upcoming website co-contributer.

But after that we will resume camping in our 10'X12' tent, with our perfect checklist of all the necessities from propane to tanning lotion, smiling as the millions of stars illuminate the rural night sky while the pine crackles and glows by our feet and the night birds call.


ALOHA DAYS
Priscilla Januskiewicz

By February, the long and bitterly cold New England winter begins to get to me. While sitting at the computer, I often glance over at my small desk calendar with its photos of the Hawaiian Islands. I dream of being back in the Land of Aloha, with brilliant blue skies, sparkling blue-green water, and soft white sand, basking in the warmth of Paradise.

In March Roy and I did go back to the beautiful island of Oahu and spend a few weeks at the Hale Koa (“House of the Warrior”) military resort on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. The resort is situated on 72 acres of lush greenery and one can see the large patch of green looking down from an airplane. This area was sold as a parcel of “undesirable” land in 1906 and, as Fort DeRussy, was used by the Army for many years. It was transformed into a world-class resort hotel in 1975 as a recreational facility for servicemen and their families. In 1991 a major expansion began, adding a fitness center, pool complex and twice as many rooms. It operates self-sufficiently with no taxpayer dollars supporting its upkeep or operation.

It is within walking distance of downtown, yet is blissfully separate from the noise of the city streets. It’s fun to walk to the many shopping areas nearby, but we do most of our walking up and down the beach, soaking up the sunshine. All beaches in Hawaii are public, and, as you can imagine, Waikiki is a very busy place in the daytime. It’s quieter after the sun goes down, and, in the cool of the evening, we sometimes stop to sit on a stone wall at one of the nearby hotels to listen to live Hawaiian music or to watch the fireworks on Friday night. In the past, we have visited two other islands, Maui and Kauai, which were a lot quieter. But we like the hustle and bustle of Honolulu (except for the traffic, of course!) and enjoy shopping at the five military exchanges on the island of Oahu.

This year we rented a car just for a few days when our son, Dana, was visiting. Car rental rates were up significantly, and, anyway, there was public transportation available if we needed it. For the first time there was a Navy bus which made runs to the Navy Exchange and commissary at Pearl Harbor twice a week from the hotel. We were able to buy snacks for our cooler and met many nice people on the bus.

In previous visits, we have enjoyed the food and entertainment at the hotel luau, driven up to the Punch Bowl cemetery and to the big surf area of the North Shore, climbed to the Pali Lookout, visited the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, and sailed on the Star of Honolulu for the sunset dinner cruise. This year, Roy won one of the tours being given away at the hotel orientation: a half-day trip to the Arizona Memorial, so he went once again. It is a very moving experience, no matter how many times one has been there.

After watching a twenty-minute film, one takes a ferry boat ride to the memorial, which is built over the sunken battleship, the Arizona, where many sailors are still entombed after being bombed by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. No noise is allowed on the memorial, but flowers may be thrown on the water in memory of those who died. Looking down into the deep, one can see the top of the ship, which lies just six feet under, still leaking oil that floats to the surface. Today, when a survivor from the Arizona dies, he may be entombed with his shipmates if he so desires, and his name will be added to the memorial wall.

On a lighter note, we took the garden tour at the hotel again this year and enjoyed learning more about the many exotic flowers, trees and shrubs adorning the grounds around us. The thatched-roof areas in the luau garden were newly added to provide good protection against a possible sudden shower during dinner and the show. It rained quite often during the first two weeks of our visit, but the air was still warm and the rainbows were delightful. Actually, the rain blows over from the windward side of the island and is usually a light, gentle sprinkling, hardly noticeable. This year it lasted a little longer than usual, and, as I found out, there was not a rain jacket to be had anywhere in Honolulu! The tourists who wore them had brought them from home, apparently. Some of the drugstores had ponchos, but that was all. Oh well. The rain was soon gone, and during the last two weeks of our vacation the weather was beautiful, sunny and bright. Just the way I like it in Paradise.


KEEPING BUSY
Joyce Anthony

Mum should be delighted (and embarrassed) with the tribute page. She doesn't like to be the center of attention at all. I am keeping her busy with crossword puzzles. Otherwise I have to repeatedly answer the same questions over and over again. Her memory is gone but she can still beat me in Scrabble!

I am loving retirement! My garden takes preference over house work. I have lots of veggies and flowers. Humming birds and chipmunks keep me entertained. I have a little friend in the garden who picks green beans along side me - a small brown bunny. He listens while I talk, and seems to enjoy my company.

My small business (very small) is sewing fur bears for people out of their old minks or what ever they have. They make a nice memento of the person who wore the fur. I also enjoy making Santa Clauses out of polymer clay, wire, cloth, paint, fur and whatever. Also dolls made of cloth. And I like to paint rocks! So I never get bored and wish that I had more time in every day.

I have had a health problem, Atrial Fibrillation. I had a procedure in May called catheter ablation. Gene had the same procedure. The outcome is still not clear, as it takes about three months before we start trying to wean me off the drugs. My 70th birthday is coming up in a few days. I really can't believe it! My kids are all doing well. They live within a 60 minutes drive.


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