We had to sit together to come up with an outline of things to share with you. We could barely remember what we had for dinner last night let alone what had transpired during the year.
Mother, Dad and Sadie came to see us for a weekend in June. It was such a nice time, the weather was warm and sunny and we were able to get many card games in. In retrospect it turned out to be very special for me, as my father died on December 13th. He was 81 year old and we were blessed to have so many good years with him.
I was very fortunate to have been able to go and visit the week before Thanksgiving as my company had shut down. In all I had been able to get out twice over this past year and was able to spend time with Paul's mother as well. Paul and I did make a quick trip out for the funeral but did not stay long. It is always so hairy traveling in winter through from Wisconsin to New York. We left Ischua Sunday afternoon about 5 pm and got to Findlay Lake (about 70 miles) about 7 pm. It was blowing snow bad enough we could not really see the vehicle in front of us so we decided to stay the night. Monday morning, the roads were basically clear but not dry, and there was blowing snow. We traveled under those conditions until we got just southeast of Cleveland, and the sun came out and the roads were bare and dry. We enjoyed good driving conditions until we got to Portage, WI about 90 miles from home and ran into a winter storm again. This time, we got 30 miles from home before we stopped for the night. Turned out our area got hit with 8 - 10 inches that day. No big problem, Paul was on vacation, and I just called in late to work.
Although our last visit was due to a sad situation, it was good to see so many we have not seen for years. We were finally able to meet my nephew's wife, Kelly. They have been married for two or three years but we had not been able to get out to the wedding. Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Scott (mother's brother) came from Boston as well as four of their five sons, a daughter-in-law and a couple of grandsons. Unfortunately, one of my father's sisters, Wilma and both his remaining brothers, Nate and Gene, were in Florida and did not make the trip up, however, his sisters, Iva Lou, who is not a snowbird, traveled out along with her son and one of my cousins. Of course, many of the cousins who live in the area stopped by. It was almost a family reunion. Due to the time of the year, my sisters have decided to have a time together in the spring, perhaps May 29th, to gather again with those who wish to join us to celebrate his life.
We decided to spend our anniversary in September with Harry and Linda Stayer in Rapid City, SD. What a wonderful trip it was. Turns out the drive out is about a day drive (12 - 13 hours, our trips to NY are 13 - 14 and we normally drive that in a day.) As typical for us, we drove out on Thursday, and enjoyed Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday with them before returning home on Tuesday. While Linda had to work on Friday and Monday, Harry was able to take off and played tourist guide for us. They are in easy driving of Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse monuments. They were really beautiful. The day we were at Mount Rushmore, they were holding a naturalization ceremony. About 100 were sworn in as citizens. What a wonderful place to hold that. Harry drove us along the Needle Highway in Custer State Park. What an experience (and I don't mean my getting carsick). The wildlife was so close. We saw bison, deer, turkeys, rams and a couple burros (daughter and mother, who stuck her head in the car window.) (Paul has been updating the web page, and thanks to Harry and his fancy camera, pictures have been added at http://www.stomieroski.com/ )
The horses are doing very well. Lady is turned 20 years old this year and got a very pretty young girl to ride her over the summer. Hannah, the daughter of the woman I board with, Traci, is about 7 or 8 or 9 years old and as she expressed a desire to ride, her mother and I agreed that she could ride Lady. They are the cutest pair. Lady gets out there and trucks along like she finally has a mission again, and there is Hannah atop, chatting almost non-stop, along for the ride. As yet, they only ride in the indoor unsupervised, but have accompanied the adults on a couple of outings. This is Hannah's first year of riding independently. Dalyte has finally quieted down this year and we were able to get some work done by fall. Human kids go through the terrible twos, I think Dalyte went through the terrible sevens. By early summer, she almost had me talked into selling her, she was such a pill. But thanks to Lauri, our riding instructor, and Tracie I was calmed down and we have found a more positive refocus. Things are actually starting to come together. I don't know what set her off last spring and summer but she is a lot more mature and relaxed in her attitude. 
The "kids" are doing good. Well most of them. Remember how Utz (the fish) liked to play dead? I came down on April 1st and there he was again, sucked up against the filtration system. This time, when I got him loose, he wasn't playing. Guess the April Fools joke was on him…dumb fish died. 
The cats are still up to their antics…sleeping and eating. Occasionally, Max (4) does entertain us with his singing abilities; unfortunately he seems to want to impress us about an hour after we go to bed or about five in the morning…dumb cat. Carlotta (3) is a sweet heart and a bit of a cuddler. She likes to sleep within arm's reach in case one is inclined to pet her when they roll over during the night and rather enjoys spending time in my knitting room while I work.
Paul is in his 12th year at PTI (Powder Technology) and still is the Director as Research and Development. I think on the most part he likes his job, but like all of us has days when he'd chuck it all to a less stressful job. (He only had three telephone calls the past two weeks he was on vacation.)
I continue to work at L&S Electric and on the most part like my job. Early in 2004 they reorganized the building and I got the office in the back room with the printers, copiers and one other person. I love it! No windows, no phones, very few people and the other person whose desk is next to mine travels a lot. I also continue as a member of our church's Benevolent Fund which administers financial assistance to those in need both within our church and within our community. I was also asked to sit on the Board of a local Christian, not-for profit, organization, Shepherd's House which ministers to individuals and families within the greater Wausau area by assisting or providing for their economic, social, financial, emotional, and spiritual needs of families and individuals through Biblical teaching and practical assistance.
Paul and I play no bridge these days. The local games are not conducive to the schedule of working persons…the Wausau game is in the afternoon and the next local game, 40 miles away starts at 6 pm. Not easy to get to when one does not get out of work until 5, at the earliest. We have had some quality time together making storage shelves this year. We built (Paul designed and cut-out, I assembled) three 8-foot sections, three shelves each. And in addition to finishing, they are even organized. We also built, again Paul designed and cutout, I painted and assembled, a storage section (three row, three spaces each row) in the closet off the kitchen for my oversized pans and other miscellaneous kitchen items like the crock pot, coffee maker, bread maker, etc. I think it looks wonderful. Paul did make me an out-door Nativity Scene (my Christmas present from last year). See pictures at our web page.
I continue with my machine knitting. I think I have gotten a little out of control. This fall I added my third machine. In all reality, I got an extra one for replacement parts I have made socks, hats, scarves, mittens, blankets and a couple of tops. I belong to a local knitting guild and sometimes we get donations of yarn from the mills. Our members are able to take the yarn, at no charge, providing we make things and donate them to the community. Last year we donated 15 garbage bags of finished goods to the local nursing homes, community shelters and hospital. . I so enjoy working (some days) on my projects. I did not think I could be so creative.
Well, guess if I don't close I won't get this in the mail until Valentines. So Happy New Year and all blessing for the coming year.
Paul and Susan
