News

New Car!

The Chevrolet Volt
It's a big event in our household when we acquire a new vehicle. Our 7 year old Honda Civic was still doing fine, but Jack has wanted a hybrid car for some time. And after much research on the latest plug-in models we chose the 2013 Chevrolet Volt. When we got home it would not charge on the 110 outlet. The salesman even came over from Guntersville on his day off to check and see if he could find the problem, but no luck. The dealer took care of the faulty wiring harness and we have been cruising around town on all electric ever since. So far we really like it.

Gregor Jackson Farewell

Presentation flag & Gregor's urn.
Yesterday we said farewell to Gregor Robin Jackson. It was a lovely day in Arab, Alabama, with temperatures in the upper 60's. There were many "Gregor Stories" from his family and numerous friends. The United States Air Force honor guard performed their military ceremony leaving no dry eyes in the audience. And to top things off there was a bagpipe player in full attire to honor Gregor's Scottish heritage.

Inside the handout.
Gregor may be gone, but he is certainly not forgotten.

(Click for a larger image.)

Gregor Jackson Passes

Gregor, December 2012
Gregor Robin Jackson, age 69, passed away Saturday, March 2, 2013, at his home. He died peacefully in bed with his dogs early in the morning.

A Memorial Service with Military Honors will be Saturday, March 9, 2013, at 3 PM at Gober Funeral Chapel. Friends may visit with the family from 2 to 3 PM Saturday before the Memorial. The family requests No Flowers Please. Donations may be made to the Local Animal Shelter in care of the Arab Police Department, 740 N. Main St., Arab, AL 35016, In Memory of Gregor Jackson.

Gregor had kidney surgery last month and recovered very quickly. He felt great on Friday when he had both breakfast and lunch with family members. His untimely death came as a great shock to all of us. Gregor always lived life to the fullest and his absence leaves a huge void in Melanie's life. All of us family members mourn Gregor's passing and send our love and support to Melanie.

Gregor Jackson Update

Gregor called us last night and was in good spirits. Below is what he posted on Facebook early this morning:

The side wound.
"One of two bullet wounds I received from a crazed, unknown black male motorist leaving Birmingham Sunday morning. He pulled up next to me at 55 mph and discharged six 9 mm rounds into my car. I got one in my shoulder and one in my side. They are going to leave both bullets inside me. Hopefully I go home today."

We are all wishing Gregor a speedy and complete recovery!

Wednesday, November 7 Update: Gregor was released from the hospital yesterday and is resting at home. He will return for a progress checkup in two weeks if there are no problems in the interim.

Gregor Jackson Shot!

Yesterday morning, Sunday, November 4, Son-in-law Gregor took Melanie to the Birmingham airport for her flight to Tampa. He then drove north on Highway 79 to return to Arab. In a sparsely populated area north of Pinson, a car pulled up beside Gregor and started shooting with a pistol. About 5 bullets hit the car and 2 wounded Gregor. Read More...

Martin Boys Leave

Brenden and Dylan embrace Barbara.
The Martin family next door has sold their house and are moving to Florida. For the past 3 years their twin boys, Brenden and Dylan, have come over almost every day for cookies and chat. Yesterday they left for their summer vacation, but they came over one last time to say goodbye. Read More...

Robin Visits Alabama

Melanie and Robin.
Daughter Robin McNair of Michigan made her first trip to Alabama in late May. It was fortunate that daughter Melanie Jackson and her husband Gregor also were able to spend a lot of time at the Phillips house during the four days of Robin's visit. Adding to the fun were the Martin twin boys from next door and their dad, Butch. Ideal weather made the entire affair a time to remember. For some pictures of our back deck festivities click this link.

Russells Visit Phillips

Bob and Lorraine Russell stopped by for a visit on their way to Georgia.
Bob & Lorraine Russell.
Read More...

Alabama Tornadoes – April 27, 2011

The good news is the Phillips family was unscathed. The bad news is the damage is all around us and six people are confirmed dead in Arab just two miles from our home with many more killed around the state. Electric power was out for over five days from 2:45 pm Wednesday to 6:05 pm Monday, May 2. Read More...

Russells Visit Arab

Bob & Lorraine Russell
Bob and Lorraine Russell from Haslet, Texas, came by for a nice visit this week.

As usual, we ate and talked a lot. They were headed to Georgia for the Easter weekend so could only stay for a few days, but we enjoyed every moment. There was much to review since we had last been together in 2010. Read More...

Update on Barbara

Much has transpired since the last update, but overall Barbara's condition is about the same. The good news is she is able to walk around in the house okay without assistance and can do a bit of gardening outside. And she continues to feel well. Read More...

Update on Barbara

Barbara suffered a relapse of the Hashimoto's encephalopathy on December 13. Since then conditions have been somewhat worse with lots of ups and downs. Read More...

Chocolate & Champagne

Yesterday evening we headed to Huntsville for Jim & Karen Bizer's 8th Annual Champagne and Chocolate Fest. This is our favorite party of the year hosted by our good friends. The word is out within their family and this year they had 4 sons, 1 daughter, and 1 daughter-in-law attending and helping. As usual we enjoyed lots of chocolate sampling and had a great time! Thanks once again Jim & Karen for having celebration and inviting us.

The Bizers Visit

Jim and Karen Bizer with Running Bear.
Jim and Karen Bizer drove down from Huntsville to join us for lunch at the local Mt Fuji Japanese Restaurant. Running Bear came along for the ride to check out our snow situation. After lunch we had dessert and coffee at home while catching up on the latest news. We always enjoy their visits. Thanks for coming Jim and Karen (and Bear too).

The Jacksons Bring Dinner

Today daughter Melanie and son-in-law Gregor brought a belated Christmas dinner to our house. All we had to do was set the table and enjoy both the food and company. Slick roads led to a two day postponement, but today was beautiful with melting snow. We had a wonderful meal and a pleasant visit. Thank you Melanie & Gregor for a nice afternoon!

Christmas at the Martins

Our next door neighbors, Butch & Burgie, invited us to share Christmas dinner with them and we eagerly accepted. It was a wonderful afternoon with the family including the boy's grandmother, Francine, from Oregon.
Dylan & Brenden with new horns.
Dylan and Brenden both got new horns for Christmas and they serenaded us.

Due to the snow and Barbara's walking issues the boys came and picked us up in the family golf cart. And Butch delivered us back home later that evening in still more snow. It might have been cold outside, but we had a great time devouring the goose dinner with all the trimmings. Plus home-made apple strudel with ice cream. Thanks to the Martin family for sharing their special day with us!

Texas Trip To The Russell's

With Barbara's condition being somewhat improved we elected to accept Bob & Lorraine Russell's invitation to visit them in Haslet, TX. The drive both ways in light traffic and mostly good weather could not have gone smoother.

The Blue Angels in formation.
We also enjoyed perfect weather in Texas where we sat in the Russell backyard and watched the Blue Angels practice and perform an air show at nearby Alliance Airport. That was certainly better than enduring the heavy traffic and large crowds; plus we had our own drinks.

Once again Bob and Lorraine were the perfect hosts and we seriously considered staying longer, but did not want to wear Barbara down too much. We will return!

Barbara's Mother Dies

Barbara's mother, Dorothy Selbmann, passed away on Thursday, October 21, 2010, at the age of 95. Read More...

Update on Barbara

Things are progressing well, but slowly. The oral prednisone doses are being decreased and her walking is improved. Also, some usage of the right hand has returned. Sleep is still good and she feels very good. The balance is better, but bears watching. Tremors are still present, but somewhat reduced. Every day sees a slight improvement.

Barbara's Update

It has been an interesting period since the diagnosis was made earlier this month. There has been positive progress and though it seems slow, every day brings some improvement. Read More...

Barbara's Diagnosis

For over eight months now Barbara has been seeing doctors and trying several different medications in an attempt to quell her tremors and other associated problems. This past week she finally received what appears to be an accurate appraisal with a treatment schedule. Read More...

Dinner at the Bizer's

Yesterday evening we once again headed to Huntsville to have dinner with Jim and Karen Bizer. They also invited a couple of their long-time friends and we had a delightful experience along with an excellent dinner. They are always the perfect hosts and we thank them for inviting us.

Chris & Dawn Visit

Chris between Dylan & Brenden Martin.
Daughter Dawn Sloat and her son Christoph drove up from Florida on July 27 for visit. Chris is shown between neighbors Dylan and Brenden Martin who were looking forward to his arrival. Read More...

Barbara Goes To The Hospital

An unexpected trip to Marshall Medical Center was Barbara's fate on Friday afternoon. It's only 15 minutes from the house, even if you miss the couple of traffic lights, and the care is great. But she would still rather not make the trip. Read More...

Back To The Long Branch Opry

Last night was another great evening of music at the local Long Branch Opry. For $15 each we enjoyed over three hours of bluegrass playing. Our review is on the music page.

Jack's Class Reunion

We recently made the two day trip to Rose Hill, Kansas, for a reunion of Jack's 1955 high school class. The drive was uneventful with no problems. It was great to see the classmates and the attendance was very good with 14 folks able to make it. For a change we stayed at the Air Capital Inn on McConnell AFB and the quarters were exceptional! Plus it was very convenient to Rose Hill. A great trip!

To The Long Branch

Last night was another great evening of music at the local Long Branch Opry. It was a sell-out crowd for a top notch performance. Our review is on the music page.

Dinner at the Bizer's

Yesterday afternoon we went to Huntsville for a visit with our friends Jim and Karen Bizer. Once again they presented a lovely meal and were the perfect hosts. Thanks to Jim and Karen it was another wonderful evening.

A Night At The Long Branch Opry

It was another enjoyable evening at the local Long Branch Opry where we heard over three hours of wonderful bluegrass and gospel music. As usual, our review is on the music page.

Long Branch Opry Returns!

Yesterday evening we once again attended the nearby Long Branch Opry, a music hall that specializes in bluegrass. It has been closed for the past three years and it was great to have them back in business. Our review is on the music page.

Texas Trip To The Russell's

We just returned from a wonderful visit to see our good friends in Texas, Bob and Lorraine Russell.
Lorraine, Barbara, and Bob are full. Read More...

Chocolate & Champagne, Oh My!

Yesterday evening we headed to Huntsville for Jim & Karen Bizer's 7th Annual Champagne and Chocolate Fest. This is our favorite party of the year hosted by our good friends. Once again there were well over 50 interesting people and this time two of Jim's sons and their wives flew in just for this event and to help with all the details. Since Jack was driving the champagne consumption was minimal, however, we made up for it with lots of chocolate sampling. We had a great time! Thanks again Jim & Karen for having this and inviting us.

Bizer's Come to Dinner

Once again our good friends, Jim and Karen Bizer, made the trip from Huntsville to join us for dinner yesterday. As always, we had a very enjoyable evening with lively conversation. Their unflappable demeanor lets them handle life's challenges with grace. We are always inspired by their visit. Come again soon!

Dawn & Family Visit AL

The Sloat family, Dawn, John & Chris, drove up from their Gulfport, Florida, home for a Christmas visit to Arab. They stayed with Dawn's mother on Christmas day and spent yesterday afternoon at our house. We had a nice time catching up on things and Chris got to visit the Martin boys next door. They also treated us to supper at the China Buffet. Thank you for spending some time at the Phillips place.

Christmas At The Bizer's

Jim & Karen Bizer invited us to their Huntsville home yesterday to share Christmas dinner with them and a few close friends. It was a lovely evening with much visiting and a wonderful, gourmet quality dinner. Thank you Jim & Karen for making this a special Christmas.

Barbara Makes A Hospital Visit.

The morning of Tuesday, December 15, 2009, is one we may remember for awhile since it resulted in an unexpected trip to the local emergency room. Read More...

Snow In Arab!

This morning we woke up to a lovely covering of snow, not a common event in this area.
A view from the back deck. Read More...

Bizer's Join Us For Dinner

Yesterday afternoon Jim and Karen Bizer once again ventured out from Huntsville to have dinner with us here in Arab. And, as usual, we talked the evening away. They are an inspirational couple and we always enjoy their company. Come again soon!

A Wonderful Thanksgiving!

Yesterday we accepted an invitation to spend Thanksgiving afternoon with our neighbors, the Martin family. Butch, Burgie, Dylan, and Brenden made us feel more than welcome and the dinner was superb. We spent hours talking, laughing, and truly enjoying ourselves. It was the best Thanksgiving in many years. Thank you Butch and Burgie for making us feel a part of your family.

Dinner at the Bizer's

Yesterday evening we made the nice drive to Huntsville for a visit with our friends Jim and Karen Bizer. It was time to catch up on their recent travel stories. They presented a lovely meal and were the perfect hosts. We also enjoyed meeting and talking with their friends Bob and Barbara Ann. Thanks to Jim and Karen it was another wonderful evening.

Melanie's Birthday!

Barbara, Gregor, & Melanie.
Mel and Gregor Jackson came to our house for her birthday.
Read More...

Russell's Visit Alabama!

Bob & Lorraine Russell at the Phillips home.
Our friends, Bob and Lorraine Russell, drove up from Texas for a visit. Read More...

John Selbmann Obituary

This was published in the Bradenton Herald on August 19.

John Edward Selbmann, 89, passed away on Thursday, August 13, 2009, at the Inn at Freedom Village. He is survived by his wife of sixteen years, Dorothy B. Selbmann. John was a long time resident of River Isles in Bradenton and served on the City Planning Commission. He and his wife were active members of the Hope Lutheran Church. A viewing will be held on Friday, August 21st from 9 – 10 a.m. at Hope Lutheran Church, 4635 26th St. West, Bradenton, FL 34207 and a service will follow at 10 a.m. Interment will be in Manasota Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hope Lutheran Church.

John Selbmann Dies

Barbara's step-father, John Selbmann, died today in Bradenton, Florida, at the age of 89. He is survived by Dorothy Selbmann. More details will be provided later.

Bizer's Come To Dinner

We had an enjoyable evening dinner yesterday when friends Jim and Karen Bizer came from Huntsville. The weather cooperated and heavy rain showers moved out prior to their arrival. This energetic couple is always a joy and we appreciate them making the trip.

Chris Returns

Grandson Chris Seabrook had the opportunity to extend his Alabama stay and spent another 4 days with us. This allowed us to really spend some quality time together and we had a wonderful time. Naturally we also did a lot of eating and discussing food; a family tradition. We're looking forward to his next visit.

Chris Seabrook visits

This morning Chris ended his two day visit with us.
Chris and Grandma Barbara.
In this picture he and Grandma Barbara are on the way to check the garden spot. Read More...

Dinner at the Bizer's

Yesterday afternoon we made the pleasant drive to Huntsville for a visit with our friends Jim and Karen Bizer. As usual, they presented a lovely meal and were the perfect hosts. We also enjoyed meeting and talking with their friends Rose and Pierre. Thank you Jim and Karen for a wonderful evening.

Brian's Unscheduled Landing

Son, Brian Bos, was on Northwest Airlines Flight 335 that took off from Detroit on Tuesday morning (June 2) headed for Los Angeles. But things didn't go exactly as planned. Read More...

Eating Out Is News Again

Last night, once again, Melanie and Gregor treated us to dinner at the local Mt. Fuji Japanese restaurant, one of our favorite spots. But the special treat this time was meeting Melanie's best friend from Switzerland, Katharina Padrutt.
Katharina
This is an older picture, but she looks much the same today; we were too busy talking and having a good time to bother with pictures. This was Katharina's first trip to Arab, Alabama, and we hope she enjoyed it. It was wonderful finally getting to meet the lady we have heard so much about.
Switzerland chocolates.
She gifted us with a box of chocolates from Switzerland that have to be described as art. We just had to take a picture of them before they are quickly devoured. Thank you, Katharina; we sure enjoyed our evening talking with you.

Dinner with Melanie & Gregor

Last night Melanie and Gregor treated us to dinner at the local Mt. Fuji Japanese restaurant. As usual, the food was great and it gave Jack a chance to have a glass of wine with dinner for the first time in Arab (recently gone "wet"). Their menu (pdf file) has many great items you won't find elsewhere in Arab. It was a lovely evening with lots of spirited conversation. Thanks Melanie & Gregor!
Jack & Melanie.Barbara & Melanie
Gregor took the pictures and got left out.

Jim and Karen Bizer Visit

Yesterday our friends Jim and Karen Bizer made the drive from Huntsville to join us for dinner and talk. As usual there was plenty to eat and much to discuss; we had a pleasant evening.

Wedding Reception

Yesterday we headed south to Fayetteville, Alabama, for a celebration of B. J. and Peggy Wood's marriage. Read More...

The Bizers Have A Party

Yesterday evening we were invited to an annual party that Jim and Karen Bizer have in their Huntsville home. It was a lovely evening with over 50 of their friends from many diverse backgrounds. Their son, Michael, flew in from DC just to help out and he also had a great time. Thank you Jim and Karen for including us in this enjoyable event!

The Bizers Come To Dinner

Jim and Karen Bizer made the trek from Huntsville to join us for dinner this evening. Jim is a former Army helicopter pilot and Karen has done many things including the theater. We always enjoy the discussions after dinner.

"Little Guy" Pays a Visit

Melanie and Greg brought Little Guy by for his first visit in many years. Read More...

Dawn, John, & Chris Visit

John, Dawn, & Christoph
Dawn, John, and Christoph came by for an afternoon visit. They were briefly in town on a trip from their Florida home.
Read More...

Mel and Greg Jackson Visit

Melanie and Gregor Jackson
Melanie and Gregor spent the afternoon with us, which made a nice Christmas Day. This is the first time in many years that they have spent the holiday season in the United States. Read More...

OCS Class Reunion

A great time with some fine people! The last 5 days were spent in Montgomery, Alabama, at the 47th year reunion of Jack's Air Force OCS Class (when he became an officer). This was the best reunion yet and we are already looking forward to the next one. There are some pictures at the Reunion Recap site.

Dorothy Selbmann Health Problems

Barbara's mother, Dorothy Selbmann, has had some serious health problems in the last few weeks. Today she was moved to a nursing care unit. She and John have been in the assisted living section of Freedom Village, Bradenton, Florida.

Gregor Jackson Heads CARAA

Son-in-law Gregor Jackson is heading up the newly formed CARAA (Companion Animal Rescue of Arab, Alabama), which is helping to assist and place animals needing a home. Good work, Gregor!

Pat Bergmann's Farewell

We just returned from a trip to Manchester, Michigan, where we attended the Healing Farewell Service for Pat Bergmann, Barbara's Sister-In-Law. Read More...

Pat Bergmann's Death

Barbara's Sister-In-Law, Pat Bergmann, died yesterday of pancreatic cancer at the age of 57. Pat was the wife of Ed Bergmann.

Gregor Jackson Volunteers

Son-in-law Gregor Jackson made the local newspaper today with a nice story about his volunteer work with the local animal shelter. Read More...

Dawn Sloat and Family Visit

The Sloat family from Florida came by for an afternoon visit and we had nice weather for their brief stay. It's always nice to see them. We even got a couple of pictures. Read More...

Woody Sears Passes

Kim Bos's mother, Juanita (Woody) Sears died February 28 of a massive heart attack. Her death came about a year after her husband, Gil, died on February 8, 2007. In accordance with her wishes no services will be held. Our sympathies and condolences go out to Kim, Brian, and Hunter.

Texas Trip and Russell Visit

Our first trip of 2008 was to see our good friends in Texas, Bob and Lorraine Russell. It was a wonderful time again. Read More...

Veteran's Day at The Park

Jack and Barbara
We attended the Veteran's Day Program at Arab's City Park this afternoon and it was a beautiful fall day. Read More...

Lunch with Ed and Teri Williams

For lunch today we dined with Ed and Teri Williams at Percasso's Gourmet Coffee Shop in Guntersville. The atmosphere is like eating in a small art gallery and they have a nice selection of sandwiches and salads. It rates another visit. We also enjoyed our time with Ed and Teri.

Brian, Kim and Hunter Visit

Brian, Kim, and Hunter Bos from Walled Lake, Michigan, visited us for several days. Read More...

Florida Trip

It was time for our annual visit to Florida and it went well, but we're glad we don't live there. Read More...

Texas, Russells, and The Gaithers

Our latest trip to Texas is now history and as usual, the visit with Bob & Lorraine Russell was great; we talked for days. February was picked so we could accompany them on their annual jaunt to the Bill Gaither Homecoming concert. It was a wonderful experience in the beautiful American Airlines Center. The weather was uneventful both directions and we had a pleasant trip.

A Wedding in Saint Charles, Missouri

Lee and Christine Casten
We just returned from Saint Charles, MO, where we attended the lovely wedding of Barbara's cousin, Christine Kurtz Fuerhoff, and Lee Roy Casten. Read More...

Virginia Trip - Dick and Jan Phillips

The last trip of the year was to Virginia to visit long-time friends, Dick & Jan Phillips. Read More...

Texas Trip to The Russells

Bob looks at the cake.
A great trip to see our friends, Bob and Lorraine Russell, in Texas and help celebrate Bob's 70th birthday. We can only guess his thoughts as he contemplates the cake (and the years perhaps). But he really did have a good time along with the rest of us. Read More...

Michigan Trip

We had a pleasant trip to Michigan to visit with Brian, Kim, and Hunter Bos.The weather was fall-like with a few rain showers, but we did get to check out Kensington Metropark, a nice nature oriented park where Hunter has spent some time. And of course, Jack got to make a stop at the local Apple Store to check out the latest computer toys. Gas prices were lower than usual with our cheapest purchase at $2.21 per gallon and even the motel prices were moderate. It was another enjoyable trip.

A Trip To Eastern Virginia

Dick and Jan Phillips
For the first time in many years we visited friends in Eastern Virginia. First to Yorktown and then to New Port to see Dick and Jan Phillips. Dick and Jack served together long ago in Air Force days. Read More...

Texas and The Russells

After delaying a planned June visit, we had a very nice eight day trip to Texas to see our good friends Bob & Lorraine Russell. As usual they were the perfect hosts. We again made the rounds to some favorite locations. Read More...

Michigan Trip

Our spring visit to Michigan is now over. It went smoothly with the exception of Jack picking up a sinus-related problem on the last day in Michigan; that took some of the fun out of the return trip. The grand kids are growing quickly and we attended Nathan's graduation ceremony (from nursery school). We also got to see Hunter play a baseball game where he hit a double. Our favorite junk store in Van Wert, Ohio, was closed for an unknown reason, but we did get to have lunch at the Earthen Treasures Natural Food Market in Berne, Indiana; always a great stop.

Missouri Trip

Well, we're back from another excellent trip to St. Charles, Missouri, where we visited Barbara's cousin, Christine Kurtz-Fuerhoff and her daughter, Hannah. As usual we ate a lot of outstanding meals, but Christine introduced a new twist when she brought home a 50-piece box of our favorite fried chicken! And of course we again checked out Whole Foods Market in St. Louis where we had lunch after "grazing" the store. Christine also introduced us to Global Foods, an international supermarket with nearly 30,000 products from every continent; a real adventure. And we saw the Missouri home of Daniel Boone, Boonesfield Village, which we enjoyed. It was a smooth trip both ways and the new Civic got over 43 miles to the gallon when we drove at the legal 65 mph in KY and IL.

The Russells Visit Arab

Our friends from Texas, Bob & Lorraine Russell, just departed on their way to Washington, DC, after spending a couple of days with us. This was their first time in Arab so we showed them a few of the local "sights". We enjoyed the visit and wished they could have stayed longer.

Florida Trip

Just back from our spring trip to Florida. Our new car performed great and got over 40 miles to the gallon while cruising at 70 mph. Visited with the Selbmanns, Ed & Pat Bergmann, and our hosts, Wally & Emily Gore. Another very nice trip with good weather except for the seven hours of rain on the way down.

A New Car!

Not an unusual event for most folks, but today we bought a new car! Read More...

Visit With Dan and Syl Cherry

Jack recently made e-mail contact with a fighter pilot friend from Air Force days; they had not seen each other since 1974. So we made a lunch date and drove up to Bowling Green, Kentucky, today to spend the afternoon with Dan Cherry and his wife Syl. They are both looking great and it was wonderful to see them again. Dan and Jack were stationed together four times during their Air Force careers; Germany, Thailand, Kansas, and Florida.

Texas Trip - Russells

After laying low for a couple of months (we don't travel during holidays), we took a pleasant trip to Haslet, Texas, and once again visited with our friends, Bob and Lorraine Russell. Read More...

Michigan Trip

Our semi-annual Michigan trip is now history; an enjoyable journey with pleasant weather. It was again an 8 day trip to visit Robin and her family in Kalamazoo and then Brian and his family in Walled Lake. Madison had a quick trip to the emergency room after eating some poisonous berries, but is back to normal now. We mostly take back roads on our trips and sometimes find interesting places. This time it was a fine health food store in Berne, Indiana. Earthen Treasures Natural Food Market had a great selection and a nice cafe, where we had a wonderful meal and gourmet coffee.

Missouri Trip

We just had another very nice trip to St. Charles, Missouri, to visit Barbara's cousin, Christine Kurtz-Fuerhoff and her daughter, Hannah. A terrific thunderstorm welcomed us and we lost power for about 4 hours in the evening, but it was only a minor annoyance to us; others in the city were not as fortunate. One of the highlights was a trip to the Whole Foods Market in St. Louis, a great store we will investigate more closely in the future. Thanks to Christine for once again being the perfect hostess.

Hurricane Katrina - Minor Problems

Hurricane Katrina came close, but was just a nuisance to us. We only received about 2 inches of rain, but did have some healthy wind gusts, which filled yards with tree limbs. Some power lines were downed and we were without power for 21 hours. We were able to get online with the laptop and a dial up connection and we powered the fridge with an inverter hooked to the truck. Sure gets dark here without electricity!

Texas Trip - Russells

We had a very nice week-long trip to Texas to visit our friends, Bob and Lorraine Russell. Read More...

2005 "Trip To Nowhere"

We just returned from our annual "trip to nowhere", which this time was mostly in Arkansas. We even wrote a recap of this journey. Read More...

Visit to "Treasure Hunt"

We took a three day jaunt to Mississippi and visited all seven locations of our favorite junk store, Treasure Hunt. Naturally we bought some stuff, but nothing that we can't immediately use or eat. As luck would have it, we were in Picayune, MS, when tropical storm Cindy came ashore nearby. We slept through it even though the area got high winds and eight inches of rain. Another nice trip.

Michigan Trip

Back from an 8 day trip to Michigan to visit Robin and her family in Kalamazoo and then Brian and his family in Walled Lake. All went well except for the traffic and road conditions in Michigan. Several major interstate exits were closed and other main roads torn up without any clues on where to go; it made a 2 hour trip into 5 hours on Friday, but we made it anyhow. Check the family page for a couple updated pictures.

Rose Hill Class Reunion

This time it was a trip to Rose Hill, Kansas, for Jack's 50th high school reunion, which was a great success. 17 of the remaining 19 graduates showed up. The entire trip went well and we even managed to return through Mississippi for a stop at our favorite junk store, Treasure Hunt.

Florida Trip

Just back from our spring visit to Florida. It was nice to see our hosts, Wally & Emily Gore. It was an opportunity to see some family members that we don't see very often; there is a nice picture in the next section. Read More...

Texas Trip - The Russells

For our first real trip of the year it was back to Haslet, Texas, (just north of Fort Worth) for another wonderful visit with Bob & Lorraine Russell. Besides our great, lengthy conversations we also checked out the Trade Days at Canton and enjoyed the best food store we've ever seen at the Central Market in Fort Worth; this is a must-see.

Missouri Trip

Our last trip of the year was another great experience. Christine Kurtz-Fuerhoff and her daughter, Hannah, shared their beautiful St. Charles, MO home with us for several days. We always find lots to talk about and her dinner parties are exceptional. And St. Charles is always an interesting city with lots of civic pride. We especially enjoyed our visit to The Foundry Art Centre, where you can talk with artists at work. Tony Schanuel is a digital artist who essentially gave us a half hour lesson on his G-5 Mac; his work is wonderful!

Texas And The Russells

Lorraine and Bob Russell
It was a pleasant trip to Texas for an enjoyable couple of days with Bob & Lorraine Russell, friends from Air Force days. We talked for 2+ days and still had more to say! The two day drive both ways was about perfect and we again checked out one of our favorite "value" stores in Meridian, MS, Hudson's Treasure Hunt. Even the weather was wonderful. All trips should be this great.

Florida Trip

A quick trip to Florida was made this week to visit Wally & Emily Gore and Dorothy & John Selbmann. It was an enjoyable trip except for I-75 in South Georgia, where we had to use side roads to avoid huge back-ups. At least the weather was fine.

Michigan Trip

We just returned from a seven day trip to Michigan where we visited Robin and family in Kalamazoo and Brian and family in Walled Lake. The weather was unseasonably warm and the drive both directions was great. We also discovered that the Fairfield Inn now has high-speed internet access in all of its locations, so we have a new favorite motel!

Tropical Storm Ivan

Tropical storm Ivan passed about 10 miles east of our place, but we got just 50 mile per hour winds and about 5 inches of rain. The power was off for around 7 hours and a lot of tree limbs were blown down, but no other damage. Others had trees blown down on houses and cars. Overall no real problems in this area.

OCS Reunion at Dayton

This was a reunion of Jack's Air Force Officer Candidate School Class of 1961 where they all became second lieutenants. Read More...

Christoph Visits Arab

Our grandson, Christoph Seabrook, and his step-father, John Sloat, visited us on Thursday and Friday. They came up from Florida for loads of fishing and even a picnic on the back deck; lots of fun for all.

2004 "Trip To Nowhere"

We just returned from a 5 day trip to Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee. Here is a review of the trip and a picture. Read More...

Missouri Trip

We spent the past four days visiting Christine Kurtz-Fuerhoff and her daughter, Hannah, in St. Charles, MO. They were the perfect hosts and made us feel very welcome. Look at these pictures of a local statue. Read More...

Edwin Kurtz Passes

Edwin Kurtz, Barbara's uncle and God father, passed away Monday evening, May 17, 2004, at age 86. There were no services as he wished.

Michigan Trip - Nicholas Born

Nicholas Edward McNair arrived 5 weeks early at 11:18 pm, Wednesday, 5/12/04! He weighed 4 pounds, 14 ounces. As luck would have it, Barbara and Jack arrived in Kalamazoo on Thursday afternoon for their spring visit and got to see Nicholas when he was only hours old. After two days with the McNair family we headed over to Walled Lake to see the Bos family.

Dawn Phillips Gets Married

Dawn Phillips and John Sloat were married in a small, private ceremony in Florida.

Selbmanns Move To Retirement Home

John and Dorothy Selbmann have moved to a very nice retirement village in Bradenton, Florida. They already knew some people there and that made the transition easier.

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