AUGUST '07 NEWS

ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?

Good whatever-you're-having to you! Thanks for checking us out again.

Here's the latest from our house to your house or office or library or
wherever you are:

Not a lot of "news" this month, but some significant news, I think:

Chartel is working steadily at her "Eat 'N' Park" job, making decent money,
(more than I do, duh!), and seeing Donny regularly. She says she wants to
double-up or triple-up on her car/insurance payments, just to get that
obligation out of the way, I guess, so she can "get on with life", whatever
that entails. She's talked about sharing an apartment with a girlfriend or
two, and if she keeps doing well at her job she'll have no problem making
her rent payments, etc. We'll see.

Yesterday her driver's license suspension notice came, and she's to turn in
her license for a photo-id card, beginning September 4th, and lasting for 6
months! OUCH! We/she will go down to the State Legislator's office to
apply for a work-permit type of id so she can at least get to work and back.
Otherwise, Donny, Tammy, Brittany (and I?) will have to transport her
or she'll take a risk of getting caught! Hopefully she's mature enough not
to test the state and she'll follow the rules, hoping for an early reinstatement.

C.J. is enjoying his summer with a lot of soccer playing, trying to save some
money for a car (of his chosing), and getting close to one Michelle (?)! He
wants to pick out his own set of wheels, with probably a flashier color than
the black Lumina, and probably one that gets better gas mileage, though
the Lumina gets 30 to 32 mpg on the highway.

In case I didn't mention it before, he "aced" his summer course, and will be
doing his last semester starting late this month. His "student teaching" will
be in the Spring of '08, so he'll basically be out of class as far as studying and
doing homework, etc. goes. I'm excited for him as he begins his teaching, as
I often wish that I had taken that route for myself. He'll be home for a few
days the middle of the month, getting his teeth cleaned, getting a checkup,
seeing some friends, etc. He won't get to see his Father, as I won't be here
(details to follow). I'll have to try to arrange a trip to Messiah to visit him
for a day or two, saving vacation for graduation in May, and hopefully another
trip to Wisconsin next summer.

Rite Aid, my main employer, has asked me to go to Bridgewater, Massachusetts
for a week to help with a transition for an Eckerd store that will be changing
overnight to a Rite Aid. We are going out in teams of 2 to give technical and
not-so-technical support to the managers and staff of one of the over 1800
Brooks/Eckerd Pharmcies that we recently acquired. After this pilot project
we may be asked to go again (and again?), to which I will say "Yes!". I will
be flown out of Pittsburgh, given a rental car, put into a hotel, and allowed $50
daily for meals! Not a bad gig, hey? Only catch is that I've never flown on
a commercial plane before, so I'll have to take a tranquilizer or something
before "departing"! Huh? Why did I use that word? Anyway, I had to go to
the District Office, 90 minutes away, for a day of training, and my managers
are updating my cranial "databank" with any additional info I may be asked
to provide when I'm there. We'll work 6 of the 7 days, with a day off to see
some sights, such as historical Boston, Plymouth Rock, etc.

Otherwise, my physical therapy is over, and I'm almost 100%. I did start back
at the grocery store this week, on a limited basis, and must continue to do my
daily stretches/exercises to stay loose and keep the pain/discomfort away. If
it becomes too much, I'll just have to quit the grocery store..

I'll be submitting my resignation to the Teen Center on Tuesday evening, as it
gets harder and harder to commit the energy and time needed to do anything
close to a decent job of leading and fundraising. I'll continue to chaperone one
night a week if they want, but will have to leave the Director's position and
money manipulation to someone else. Hopefully, prayerfully, there's someone
in the community that can and will step up and lead the Center on to bigger
and better things. I'm tired!

My trip to Kimberly was FUNTASTIC!! My time with Bill and Colleen and the
boys was most enjoyable, as we did some sightseeing, picnicing, beachcombing,
swimming, fun-center playin, and eating some of that excellent Wisconsin
cuisine! I brought back some cheddar brats, regular brats, chess curds, string
cheese, spreads, etc. to share with Chartel and C.J. and whoever. Also got a
package of bratburgers in the freezer for a special occasion, such as wanting
them! While out there we also visit Lambeau Field and the Green Bay Packer
Hall of Fame! My friend John Meyer came down from Iron Mountain, Michigan,
and toured with us, followed by lunch at an "infamous" eatery just down the
street from the stadium. Bryce, Garrett and Nolan are so enjoyable to be
around! Each one is in karate, Bryce is also playing football, and Nolan runs
non-stop. It's such a joy to see their individual characteristics and personal-
ities - each one is so different, yet in some ways so alike. Nolan got to drive
his first bumper car by himself at the fun center, and was it funny to watch!
I brought back pictures from each of the activities we did, and it brings such
joy to relive the experience!

Okay, it's Sunday and I'm trying to catch up on laundry, housework, etc.
May go bumming later, as the local Catholic church is having their annual
"Festival" nearby - good food, games, raffles, friends to talk to, etc. Oh, I
almost forgot - a group of 5 of us from the Teen Center went to Wheeling,
W.Va. last night to see WWE Raw! Some of the touring professional
rasslers (wrestlers) were putting on a show, and it was quite a "show"!
It was hard to "get into it", but the guys enjoyed it, so I want along, doing
my usual shouting of "cute" sayings a few times. Hey, for $21 I should be
allowed to speak my piece, hey? Anyway, I won't be doing that again.
Once is more than enough. Oh, in case anyone is interested, some of the
participants were John Cena, Randy Orton, "King" Booker, Tony Rhodes
(Dusty's son), "Hacksaw" Jim Duncan, Umaga (?), and others.

HAVE A GREAT AUGUST, AND PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH!

Love, Chartel, C.J., and Bill