January and February, 2007

Nancy and Bob Murdock, Editors - murmuse@comcast.net

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CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE:


ANNOUNCING OLIVIA'S BIRTH (Nancy Murdock for Jason) Click

HAIL TO THE MUSE! (Darrel Murdock) Click

BUSINESS IS GOING WELL (Jerod Davidson) Click

MONDAY MORNING MUSINGS (Gene Murdock) Click

SOME CHANGES IN MY LIFE (Charles Frost) Click

ENJOYING THE MURDOCK MUSE (Priscilla Januskiewicz) Click

Part 2

BIG ADVENTURE TO LAS VEGAS (Becky Murdock) Click

ROY'S THANKSGIVING REPORT (Nancy Murdock) Click

THANKSGIVING AT HANOVER PA (Nancy Murdock) Click

THANKSGIVING - TOKYO (Jean Kiyoe Ogawa) Click

ALMOST CHRISTMAS (Nancy Murdock) Click

CRISFIELD UPDATE (Doris Howlett) Click

REPORTING FROM CRISFIELD (Tim Howlett) Click

A BUSY TIME OF YEAR (Jane McCauley) Click

Part 3

HOMECOMING QUEEN (Gene Murdock) Click

BOB'S DEVILED EGGS (Bob Murdock) Click

REDWOOD CITY REPORT (Valerie Davidson) Click

HELLO FROM SAN DIEGO (Carol Murdock) Click

HUDSON NEWS (Carol Howlett) Click

GREETINGS FROM THE BRUGGES IN CA (Anna Brugge) Click

Muse Editors
Michigan, 2006
Photo by Kathy


Nancy's 2005 quilt,
"Thank You, Matisse"

Gallery photo

Quilt index



Olivia

Gallery photo


ANNOUNCING OLIVIA'S BIRTH
Nancy Murdock for Jason

On Dec. 7, Jason called from the hospital in mid-morning to let us know that our great-granddaughter Olivia Dawn-Marie had arrived. We had a chance to talk with her Dad (Jason Murdock), but Mom (Bevin Hoffman) was with the pediatrician. Both parents were thrilled.

Olivia was born Dec. 7, at 8 pounds and zero ounces, and she was 20 1/2" tall. Grandpa Darrel was also in at the birth, complete with his camera, and he sent us some good pictures of
Olivia and her parents. Olivia is a really beautiful baby! We also have a nice photo of Darrel with Olivia, taken by Jason.

You may not believe the next part of this story. I didn't see my lunchmates until the 11th. Shortly before lunch, my friend Stuart sent a happy message to all of us. He announced that his granddaughter Olivia had arrived on Dec. 7 - with very similar size and weight! It still boggles my mind!! In my whole life, I may have known two Olivias - and now 2 born in one day within our little lunch group. It's a small world.


Darrel 2006
at Minneopa


HAIL TO THE MUSE!
Darrel Murdock

Hey, the Nov/Dec 2006 Muse was a ton of fun! Dad, I tell ya, the Muse looks so nice the way you designed it, and the little pictures are so clear I can't believe it. It's no wonder Rickey raves about the Muse, with all those neat pull-down menus and galleries. Mom, you're quite an inspiration with all of your articles and poems; geez you guys put a lot into the production of the Muse. We are so lucky to have this place to meet and share our stories and photos.

I would also like to thank ALL the contributors who add so much with your entries. It's so much fun to read what's going on in your homes, your communities and your travels. Oh, and even your jobs. To my sisters: Very nice commendation letter, Meredith; and Val, you're amazing me! Uncle Gene, you're a world class adventurer and writer, I read yours more than once. Becky, kudos to you for the daily volleyball and to Tim for the prestigious award. Brother Roy, great photo idea, please send me the pic of the Hummer and yours truly. Aunt Margery, I'm nearly jealous of your State Park marathons. Colleen, you couldn't start off simple with your first quilt, I see. Wow, nice letters from everyone.



Jerod, 2006


BUSINESS IS GOING WELL
Jerod Davidson

Dec. 6: Thanks for the birthday poem. Business is going well; we've landed about 10 contracts so far, all completed. We have a couple more that'll happen in the next few weeks here. We have been working with non-profits/community centers thus far, and have made some great contacts. One of the non-profits wants us to come and do some training sessions early in the new year so that they can maximize the tools we have provided. So far we have set up multiple wireless networks as well as running cat5(wired high speed internet) jacks to a few of the offices.

We are also hoping to land a nice contract in the 1st quarter of next year. We may have to bid for it (I believe it's about 10-20 community centers). Oh yeah, we'll be in the phone book in February for the first time (got a good deal on that!).

Happy Holidays


Red Fox,
running


MONDAY MORNING MUSINGS
Gene Murdock

Dec. 24: I had a great month with nature. Early in December I had a red fox cross the road in front of me; a week later I saw about 24 wild turkeys in a corn field. Throughout the month I saw many deer; and last week I watched a pheasant glide across the road just a few feet ahead of me.

I am going to the Extension Office soon to ask the farm section where I can see and talk to people about draft horses, flax, sugar beets and barley - items that have been around for many years, but that I have never actually seen in the field.

Some of my favorite commercials:

• Budweiser horses playing football; referee (zebra, of course) looking at monitor of replay. Cowboy on fence says that ref is a jackass… his friend beside him says, no I believe he is a zebra.

• Geico commercials in which a real victim tells of their experience, while some noted personality does it theatrically.

• Bud Lite ads where athletes and notables (Burt Reynolds) sit around a table arguing as the old (Charles Dickens) character takes notes and sagely nods.

• Thelma and Nora are identity theft victims – but lovably hilarious.

And now some lint from the pockets of my mind:

• I’m an ardent Cubs fan and an ardent fan of Cubs Fans.

• I love bananas and peanut butter either just mixed together or on pumpernickel bread.

• I hate nice paper napkins that, if they hit a real wet spot on your face, immediately deteriorate and shed small pieces of paper on you.

I sat in a restaurant next to a round table of about eight ladies, all of whom were deaf. It was hard not to stare as I watched the amazing interplay of communications between the groups, both generally and individually, as several small hand conversations were held simultaneously with the whole.

Coming home from town the other day I stopped in Plattsmouth, the Nebraska town just across the Missouri river from Glenwood. Four miles from Plattsmouth is the confluence of the Platte and Missouri Rivers, with excellent display boards and easy parking where you can sit and watch the two streams of water converge. But one of the highlights is the ride out and back with the fields on one side and the woods on the other. The woods start out as savanna, with a few trees among the grass, then comes the woodland with mostly trees, but still lots of grass, and finally the forest with all trees.

This makes an excellent habitat for all kinds of animals, especially with the fields containing corn stalks, rows of mullet and sorghum, and lots of sunflowers of all sizes. Also there is a large area of native prairie grass that makes an excellent habitat for pheasants. No houses, very few people, mostly hunters and fishermen, so it is a relaxing, enjoyable ride.



The newlywed
professors

Gallery photo


SOME CHANGES IN MY LIFE
Charles Frost

Nov. 13: Thanks for putting together another stellar issue of the Muse. How many years has this wonderful project been going on?

Some changes in my life: Will be returning in a few weeks to Kirksville, MO, where on December 8th I will marry Dr. Janice Grow-Maienza. She is Professor of Education at Truman State. Orrel and I became acquainted with her at faculty Gourmet Club gatherings nearly 20 years ago. We will be married before the local circuit judge that both of us know and who, incidentally, has just been reelected to office. I've made a mental note to send you a photo for your next issue. Love to you both.


Priscilla,
2005


ENJOYING THE MURDOCK MUSE
Priscilla Januskiewicz

Nov. 14: Your new Muse issue is packed full of interesting and wonderful articles, and it must have taken days or even weeks of work to put it all together. Thank you so much!

Nancy, your quilts are unbelievable, and I'm impressed with your artistry and imagination! The captivating colors and beautiful design in the parrot quilt took my breath away! After looking at all the quilts in the quilt gallery, I have a question. How do you do them so fast, while working full time and taking trips too? It boggles my mind.

I have been busy putting photo albums together for family members, scanning and printing old black and white pictures of Mum and Dad and some that Dad took of us four girls when we were young. The top-loading memory books are nice to work with and I can print on both sides of the acid-free paper with five or six photos on each side, adding captions and dates. She doesn't know it yet, but Donna will get a special album for her birthday with pictures of Mum and Dad before they were married. It's a smaller, fancier one, with cut-out glossy photos and color-coordinated designer paper on each page.

I was reading your article, Bob, on the topic of your mother's 100th birthday, and I have to tell you that my mother actually was at Christel's funeral. She sat in the front row with her brothers, Euel and Mal. Joyce and I sat a few rows back, and then the three of us went to the reception afterward.

[Ed. note - Thanks for the reminder, Priscilla. I found in my original notes that I did indeed see your Mum there. I have corrected the article in the Aug-Oct 2006 Muse. -- Bob]

Thanks again for the new issue. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a blessed Christmas.


Click here for Part 2 of the January-February 2007 Muse.

Any comments? Contact the Muse editors at murmuse@comcast.net

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