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Nancy Murdock THE ACCIDENT Most of our time in CA was pleasant, but we did have one big dark shadow on our vacation time. A couple of days before we left, I had an automobile accident. I had been a passenger when our car was hit by a stolen car in Minneapolis over 30 years ago, but Bob was driving then. This time I was driving, Bob was in the front passenger seat, and Mer was in the right rear seat. It was a terrible experience. However, mercifully, no one was injured. We were on our way to meet the rest of the family for dinner at a place I had never seen. Mer was giving directions. I entered an intersection (which was cmpletely clear)right after seeing the light turn red when I was about three feet behind the line. About halfway through the crossing, I suddenly felt we had been hit from behind with such force that the car was turned in the opposite direction. We swung kind of in a rocking pattern and then stopped. It felt like being in a bumper car at a fair. I’ve never liked those, because people tend to hit each other’s cars on purpose. I couldn’t get the car to move, so I turned off the engine and took the key out. We got out and stood on the sidewalk. I think it may have been Mer who called 911, and a policeman came from La Mirada, I think. I was not in great shape after my first accident. The towing company came along and carried off the car, and an officer from the CA Highway Patrol interviewed everyone and checked the damage. The man who had hit us didn’t say much at that time, but a woman who had been in the area was awful! She had not been hit, nor had she hit anyone herself, but she kept getting right up in my face and yelling that I could have hurt her children (who were in a car that was not involved). She left her children in the car in the middle of the intersection and refused to be persuaded to move them out of danger or to stop yelling in my face. I had no respect for her after that. She spent the next half hour or so enjoying the retelling of the story to everyone in sight. I felt sorry for her children. Sean and Patricia came along to help us and drive us away from the scene. Sean heard the driver who hit us complain that he had just replaced the front end of his vehicle. So this suggested that perhaps he has a tendency to dash into the intersection full blast, without looking to see if the way is clear. Sean and Patricia took us to eat dinner and then bought us a pumpkin pie to take home to cheer us up. They each told the story of their own first accidents, to make me feel better for my lapse. I was grateful for their kindness. But I can’t forgive myself for doing this, even though I was tired and driving in unfamiliar territory. We found the two policemen and all of the people who were involved in the rental replacement and the insurance interviews very kind and helpful. Today (Oct. 29) we got the report from the car rental agency, which says we are responsible for the damage of over $4,000. It mentioned that we need to plan to pay our deductible. Bob says we may have only a low deductible now. I imagine it will go up dramatically after this episode. I think it would be wise to stay closer to home for the next decade or so. But I am extremely glad that we had a great chance to see so much of our extended family over a period of several days. We love them all and have happy memories of being with them at a happy time – and being soothed by them at the one unhappy time. |
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Nancy Murdock Oct. 31: I had a very frustrating experience this past Monday, going to Faithful Circle Quilters, which meets at the Presbyterian Church in Columbia, MD. I needed to pick up a project for the next round in a round robin quilt. I started out all right, except that it was raining and I have never before seen it so dark out. I had to watch the road very closely. All was going well until I suddenly noticed that I might have passed my turnoff onto 108 east. Well, okay, I would turn around at the first opportunity. Unfortunately, if there were any opportunities, I didn't see them! I finally did manage to get off the road I was on, but then I didn't have a clue as to where I actually was or how to get back to FCQ. To make a long story short, I traveled for three hours, trying to find the church. Meanwhile, I was assisted by: --a driver who responded to my frantic waving and call for help, --a family who took me in when I knocked on their door, --three people at different stores or businesses who gave me directions, --a man who said he had only 20 minutes before he had to pick up his wife from work at a hospital, but who escorted me to very close to the church, and –a young woman getting ready to leave a parking lot. Meanwhile, I twice found myself going the wrong way on busy highways that looked like innocent streets. I guess I must have interpreted the kind directions wrong more than six times. I finally did get home, exhausted, having reached my destination but missed the FCQ meeting by five minutes. By then, my main aim had changed to getting home, of course, so I just concentrated on that, having finally reached the correct road. Considering that I was driving around 35-45 miles per hour, I calculated that I had driven about 135 miles. Bob verified that by seeing how low the gas gauge had gotten, since he had recently filled the tank. I alternate between shuddering about how hard it was to get out of that nightmare, and blessing God for all those wonderful, kind people who all tried their best to get me on the right track, and also let me use their bathrooms and gave me water to carry along. I was so upset that my lips stuck together when I tried to talk, so the water was very welcome. We have decided that Bob will go along with me to navigate whenever I am driving anywhere except to work. So he will drop me off at FCQ this coming Monday. He is using this as an opportunity to go shopping, something he loves to do but I don't. So the long and short of it is that I hope to pick up the round robin in just three days. Who would have guessed that quilting could be so adventuresome! Nancy Murdock 10/31/08 |
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Margery Aukstikalnis In Douglas, on Halloween, parents took their costumed children by car to the parking lot of their choice (Wal*Mart, High School, etc,) where they had permission by the owners of the lots to congregate for two hours and set up at each car a candy supply. All the children were then allowed to go trick or treat from car to car, and mix and mingle in between. NO houses, no roads, and constant "neighborhood watch" over all the kids. They call it Halloween tailgating. What a wonderful, safe way to celebrate. Do they do anything like this in your town? [Not to my knowledge, but I hope it will catch on!---NAM] |
Krista Reese 2008 |
Mary Reese Hello! Krista is studying acting for film and television at NYFA in Los Angeles. She's in an accelerated program and has classes or is filming most often every day of the week. She's enrolled in a one year program and graduates in May 2009. She makes several mini films a week with various student directors and other acting students. She absolutely loves every second of the process and LOVES living in California! She definitely wants to make her living as an actress. Click here to see Krista's first video on Youtube. Krista actually didn't care for this video but until she posts another, this is all we've got! We are very excited about a new film studio being built right in our backyard, in Plymouth MA. Plans are to break ground in the spring 2009 and be up and running summer 2010. It's a state of the art GREEN studio with 14 sound stages. It is Plymouth Rock Studios, and got the rights to call the neighborhood Hollywood East! Love, Mary |
Happy Cosmos |
Mary Cosgrove October 16 - Cosmos are their name. Planted seeds. Bloom from spring through fall! Tall to 6'4". Happy into the fall season. November 1 - They have since become even more impressive and now almost all the buds are open. It's definitely soup season here. I plan to brighten the winter season with lots of new soups. Mary Cosgrove - - Dallas, Oregon |
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Barbara DiStefano [Ed. note: This was forwarded to Barb, who passed it on to us and others. - - RDM] Freezer Bag Omelets This works great!!! Good for when you're alone or when all your family is together. The best feature is that no one has to wait for their special omelet. Have the guests write their name on a Quart Size Freezer Bag with a permanent marker. 1. Crack 2 eggs into the quart size freezer bag (not more than 2) shake to combine them. 2. Put out a variety of ingredients such as: Cheeses, Ham, Onions, Green Peppers, Tomatoes, Hash Browns, Salsa, etc. 3. Each guest adds prepared ingredients of choice to their bag and shake the bag to mix them well. 4. Make sure to get the air out of the bag and zip it up. 5. Place the bags into rolling, boiling water for exactly 13 minutes. You can usually cook 6-8 omelets in a large pot. If you have more omelets, make another pot of boiling water. 6. Cut the bags and the omelet will roll out easily. Be prepared for everyone to be amazed. 7. Nice to serve with fresh fruit and coffee cake; everyone gets involved in the process and it becomes a great conversation piece. Imagine having these ready the night before, and putting the bag in boiling water while you get ready. And in just 13 minutes you have a nice omelet for a quick breakfast |
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Becky Murdock Hi folks, I thought you might like to check out these yummy recipes that my boss sent me. One even has my name on it and I think you should try it. I am going to. Enjoy!!! love you, Becky.... [Click here for the recipes.] |
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Missi Sargent Sept. 9 - Well I figured I’d try something a little different in terms of songs. A little history - when I was little I used to go to my Memere & Pepere’s house on the weekends. They used to watch all of the music shows, especially Lawrence Welk. This song (Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy) was often played on the show and I’ve always thought it was such a catchy tune. This is the Bette Midler version. I hope all the other Musers enjoy this. [Ed. note: Click here for Missi's song as an Mp3 file.] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ October 12 - It’s not often that a song hits me so emotionally. I had never heard of Eva Cassidy, nor did I know her story. I ended up with a few of her karaoke tracks but since I wasn’t familiar with them and I really knew nothing about her or her style I never played them. I finally took a moment to listen to her sing on Youtube and was blown away. So I decided to record one. When I sang the song for some reason I felt very emotional…more than I’ve ever felt singing a song but I had no idea why. It wasn’t until after I posted my recording that I found out that she was lost to cancer at the age of 33. I found her story online and was hooked. She was a down to earth musician who had no want for fame and fortune. She didn’t want to dance or pretty herself up. She just wanted to perform…and she was amazing. Her story really touched me and I found I share many of the same views on music. I’ll never be on stage dancing nor will I ever become famous and that’s ok - because that is how I want it. But I do love to perform. So I wanted to share my recording with you - just because. I hope you don’t mind. [Ed. note: Click here for Missi's rendition of "Time after Time" as an Mp3 file.] |
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