alternatives

So I mentioned spray butter as a pretty good alternative. It's the I can't believe it's not butter spray. 0 calories.

Also, hot beverage drinkers rejoice. Ghiradelli hot chocolate at safeway, contains 1.5 gms of fat and only 80 calories. The nestle contains 3 gms of fat with 80 calories. Now, to cut down on this, I bought a container of Postum which is only 10 calories (3 gms carbs. that's it) which can be mixed 1:1 with one of these hot chocolates. So we're talking only about 45 calories if you do a half serving of each and 8 oz water. Mix in a little milk to add some creaminess, and you got your breakfast beverage calories under control, and a decent taste. OJ has 110, and Pepsi has over 3 times as many calories by comparison-160 big ones. It's a good way to get your heat without drinking coffee or if you are bored of tea.

I have another one for you too-mix a can of rosarita's refried beans, a can of chicken, and some diced onions (sauteed if preferred, and with salsa and plain yogurt you get a great burrito filler that is nothing but protein, fiber, complex carbs, and some additional benefits from the yogurt (acidophilus). Add some cilantro and yeah maybe some of that spray butter, and we're talkin' DEELISH. There are also jalapeno refrieds for those who'd like a little additional flavor. You can make this by the vat full, and that should cover half of your dinnertime dieting drudgery for the week. Watch your tortillas. Some of those things include fat for very little if any flavor value.

flummery

flummery-meaningless words, statements or language especially when intended as flattery (literary)


You frequently fling so much flummery, as if Fred the fop were the finest flautist in all of fair Finland.

To all you long armed women

OK shoppers, as I told you before GAP has started to carry tops and coats in women's tall. I ordered a couple and I love them. They are a little more tailored and fashionable then the Eddie Bauer clothes. Jenn, they also have 3/4 length sleeve shirts in tall that I know you get that will have the longer silhouette to them.

I have to go to meetings all day Thursday and Friday in Walla Walla with all the Army Corp "players", but that will give me a chance to dress in my new shirts!!

weight loss contest

OK. Tim, how about do a very accurate means of body fat testing? You'll have to figure out what equivalent percentage of body fat you'll need to lose to lose ten pounds (or whatever your goal is). That way, you can change your composition without necesarily changing weight.I'm actually lifting for strength (low reps high weight), so I'll probably lose a lot more than I gain with all of the cardio and dieting.

Jan sounds great. Glad you're in.

The misery of not being able to eat does fade a bit. I allow myself a cup of hot chocolate in the mornings, but the rest involves small portions of controlled foods. I boiled 4 eggs for example, doffed 3 yolks, sliced and added to 1 half wheat english muffin and gave it a good soaking with that fake spray butter, and added salt and pepper. It was a tasty and filling alternative to fried eggs in the morning. I was down to 177 this morning from 182 at the beginning of this. I'm sure I'll see a plateau soon, but the drop in weight has brought hope when I needed it most. Pick up a bottle of that spray butter. Yellow with a blue cap. It's a godsend. I spray it on popcorn, eggs, oatmeal, bagels, toast. Pretty much everything I eat now. Oh yeah it's pretty good on broccoli too. I've been doing a lot of DDR dancing (xbox) for excercise. It's a lot of fun, and you really lose track of time. It's a nice indoor alternative while the weather is still trying to tear the roof off of our house.

word for the day-effloresce

effloresce (v.) e floress-to bloom or blossom. Your vocabulary will effloresce if you read my words for the day.

California Grandma Sharp

Hi everyone,

Wanted to update you on your California Grandma Sharp:

Her birthday is Monday Feb 6th and she sure knows how to celebrate it. She is going to Laughlin, Nevada to do the activity she loves the best!! You guessed it........to gamble. Since her friend Marge doesn't want to go, Grandma/ Mom is going alone. It's a pretty good set up. She drives across the street from her apartment; and leaves her car a parking lot. A bus picks up all the seniors who signed up and off they go to Laughlin. And, after leaving more than a little money in Nevada, they drive back. She's a pretty gutsy lady; especially for not really being one to go places alone. Grandpa/ Dad was always there to keep her company, wish he was with her.....but life goes on.

She has real problem with the mail at her apartments. Don't know why, but she doesn't get her mail from out of town in a timely manner. Still hasn't gotten pictures the Jennifer sent twice. So thought I could give you my address and I could forward to her anything that is sent. Also wanted to give you her telephone number.

Speaking of telephones.... she was having such difficulty hearing well on the phone ( or otherwise) even with her fancy hearing aids. So went into her audiologist. After cleaning the hearing aids, replacing new parts and a few adjustments, she is doing much better. Phil and I had her join us on a trip to the city of Ventura. A nice Sunday drive to check out some senior condominiums that Phil and I were curious about. But after seeing they were 3 story complexes, Phil said, no way...

Well, got to go. Here is my address and Grandma's phone number.

Chris Manger
3509 Vicki Ct.
Simi Valley, Ca. 93063

Grandma's Telephone:
805-529-1500

Bye for now,
Your Dad's/ Grandpa/ Jan's husband little sis,
Chris

word for the day-doff

doff-to take off (clothing); tip (as in a hat); remove, or throw away.
You might know this one. Makes sense with don.

Instead of calumniating, you should doff the attitude and join me with fanfare and banderoles ab initio. Banderole really kinda kills the whole process.

Not as tough as I thought

Since work isn't that busy I decided to be proactive with my time and increase my professional standing. I have been looking into getting my GIS (geographic information systems) graduate certificate from PSU. It is kind of like any other certificate that says I took these classes at a graduate level and can do this type of work. So anyway, work will reimburse tuition and I have already completed 11 or the 20 credits needed to fulfill requirements so I thought I couldn't pass up the opportunity. So I signed up for a night class that was already in the 3rd week of the quarter and have been playing catch-up since.

I didn't realize how hard it would be to put in my 40 hours at work and then twice a week driving into Portland and then sit through class and lab. When I got home last night at around 8:30 I hit the hottub and went right to bed. If it wasn't for the free tuition there would be no way I would want to continue this. I am feeling mostly back to normal again this morning but am looking forward to my weekend. The funny thing is I didn't think that this would be a problem for me at all. I don't know how you people with kids do it. So to all you busy people out there, I'm feeling you.

word for the day-calumny

calumny-a maliciously false slander.

Kal um nee

Instead of brandishing banderoles, or compiling copious calumnies, you should take part in the words for the day ab initio.

word for the day-banderole

ban·de·role or ban·de·rol
or bannerol

ban' duh role

A narrow forked flag or streamer attached to a staff or lance or flown from a ship's masthead.
A representation of a ribbon or scroll bearing an inscription.

At the conclusion of our contest, we will blow on bugles bearing banderoles.

spring clearance

It's getting on toward that time of year when clothes get skimpier, swimsuits are worn, and the gut flops out over the beltline in all of its glory. There in all of its amorphous pudgy glory it flops- a little reminder of our trips to the sharps.

Tim suggested a contest for weight loss and I think that is a fabulous idea. I could use a little extra spending money. SO. Just to get the ball rolling- Let's say that if you are in, get an accurate weight, and set a lofty goal. If you don't have enough fat to lose at least 10 lbs, I don't think this is an appropriate contest for you. I can lose five just through sweating. Let's make this a little shorter term so people don't lose focus, and say it ends March 15th ( over 2 and a half months). $40 (yeah you heard me) per entry. Higher stakes=fewer steaks. Do you have the gut to pull it off? I know I do!

there are circumstances where people are trying to add weight, and we could talk about a goal there as well, but can't make that too easy.

Anyone have a problem with the above rules before we begin, please speak your mind.

I weigh 182, and my goal is 168. 14 lbs folks. Bring it on.

word for the day-ab initio

So I thought I would look at a word a day, and try to expand my limited vocabulary. I always hear a word mentioned on the radio, or see one in reading that I don't recognize, and I thought I'd put one out here for people to think about. Anybody who is interested in the same can comment with the word in a sentence. Maybe we can try to incorporate previous words to keep them fresh in the mind.

ab initio (abineesheeo.) adv. - From the beginning.

For my word for the day, I read the dictionary ab initio.

really bad joke

so there's this lady that works at a bank: Ms.Wack, (loan officer) - Then there's a green frog than needs a loan. So the frog goes into the bank and finds Ms.Wack. He's carrying a very precious, little white elephant. He asks Ms. Wack if he can use his little elephant, a costly elephant, as collateral on a personal loan for his wife's laser eye surgery. 'Well," says, Ms. Wack, "that's an odd request." "Oh,"says the frog, "but you must it means so much for my wife to get this surgery, and this elephant was rather expensive and precious." The little tree frog holds his little, white elephant to his bulging belly, and Ms. Wack takes pity. "I'll have to check with our manager, since I'm not familiar with the value on your little elephant there." So Ms. Wack takes the little elephant with her and goes into a back hall, then into the bank's mananger. He's a balding man, and when Ms. Wack enters he beams ( a crush he's had for ten years) and says, "Hi Patty." Ms. Wack blushes, then says, "we have a frog with tjhis." She displays the elephant. " I don't know what it is even." Just then the green frog peeks in, and the manager says,"Why, it's a knick knack Patty Wack give the frog a loan."

Message from the Dean household: No Talking Dora House

For those that are concerned….Target did not have a Dora Talking House- so she is getting a Dora Talking Van, and small princess Dora doll her brother Nicholas grabbed without much thought off the shelf.  Luckily her brother Gabe actually looked around and found the van.  I’ve bought her a “treasure box” as she calls them…and then some “Jewelry/Jewels” from Goodwill to go in it.  I think she will like it.  I also found a plastic kitchen for $8…but didn’t have the room to put it in the car- so hoping it will still be there when Brian checks with his truck.  It’s definitely not the 100 dollar quality of the one I’d like to get- but it will be perfect for below the play set by the picnic table outside….and not put me further in debt.

Tim- that’s disappointing that some adults just don’t get it- but I’m glad your principal has the sense to be straightforward about him moving. 

Well I’ve been here for several hours- and have several hours of work ahead of me- so back to work.  Next week is our finals week.  So birthday party is also a celebration of being at the halfway point in this school year! 

Take care all.

Still Alive

Wow, it has been awhile since I have read the blog and there are some pretty interesting things going on. I would love to be there when the stomach contents are finally exposed. Greyson, I feel your pain with the weight issue and think maybe it is time for some family accountability and maybe a contest.

As for me, I am getting really fed-up with grouchy adults at our athletic contests. For the first time since I got here we finally have a great student section that gets rather spirited at our athletic contests. They are surprisingly well-mannered and yet the complaints continue. During one game last week we actually had a parent complain because he chose to sit behind the students and the students had the gall to stand up and cheer. He ask me in all seriousness if bleachers weren't meant for sitting. I tried my best to be polite and told him that we are glad to finally be getting student participation and that having the students stand during the contests was simply part of their participation. He didn't seem satisfied so I looked around and noticed that there were at least 150 possible seats in which he could sit and not have an obstructed view. When I politely pointed this out to him he was still not satisfied and felt that the students should sit down. At this point I called the principal over and explained the situation to him. He looked directly at the man and told him "That is the student section and you need to find someplace else to sit". He then proceeded to find another place to sit.

Oh well, I am done venting for now.

Hope all is well with everyone in SPRADland.

Tim

Medical Update from Mom/Grandma

Sooooo - the endoscopy showed almost no opening at the bottom of the esophagus so no wonder nothing was getting through. He dilated the heck out of it on Tuesday, but by Wednesday afternoon Grandma had developed a terrible pain in her side near the gastric tube. Off to the emergency room we went at 7 p.m. to meet the doctor there. All the tests they did showed nothing except a mildly elevated white count but the different kinds of white cells were not quite of the distribution one would expect if they were gearing up to fight an infection. CAT scan was ordered for the a.m. and they kept her overnight, giving her pain meds to feel better.

Highway 34 was shut down by water over the roadway just outside of town so it was bumper-to-bumper traffic with everyone going thru Albany on Hwy 20. Anyway, I waited at the hospital the next night until about 8 p.m. but the doctor had emergencies and didn't get there until midnight. At that time, he didn't know the CAT scan results anyway because the radiologist hadn't done the report yet.

Pain meds resulted in her bladder deciding not to work so they had to put in a catheter. They stopped the pain meds. Next a.m. the CAT scan report says the gastric tube had migrated into the duodenum. The stomach and intestines therefore thought it was food and was trying to eat it. He pulled it back up where it belonged.

Meanwhile, the bladder is working overtime and it looks like the catheterization has resulted in a bladder infection. The nurse assured me that an UA done the day before was perfectly clear. I was not convinced that things hadn't changed since then.

Last night doctor got there to make rounds at 9 p.m. and had talked with the surgeon. They decided to take the tube out altogether. He also thought the UA should be repeated and it did show an infection.

So, since the tube has been removed, Grandma has been eating like a logger, no pain, no throwing up and generally feels much better. She got quite a bit of exercise going back and forth from her bed to the bathroom so is ambulating pretty well.

We brought her home today about noon and she is now snoozing in the recliner. They had her bed at 30 degrees in the hospital so Dad put 2 bricks under the bed here. From the looks of it, she'll slide right out so I think we'll have to take out one brick and give her extra pillows.

The hole where the gastric tube came out will take some time to close, and meanwhile may ooze out some stomach contents. So far we haven't seen anything nearly so exciting. Maybe she'll let me change the dressing tonight and we can look for fruit salad (part of lunch).

So, doctor thinks we are in for clear sailing. Grandma has been sneezing all day though and probably has caught the cold I had last week. I'm really glad to agreed to come here for a few days at least.

Notes from Seattle

I am up in Seattle for a short course on 3D tracking of fish using acoustic tags (really very cool). Greyson and I came up last night and plan to stay through till Saturday. The class has been great so far, unlike most of the boring conferences that I attend. It is a small group of about 10 people and they continuously feed us so we are a happy bunch. I think Greyson and I will go explore the University District tonight, which is where our hotel is.

Is Ada enjoying her stay at Grandpa's and Grandma's? Are you receiving your mail still or is she still scaring the mailman? Thanks for taking her, we will make sure to come get her in a couple of weeks.
-Mel

Fun visit at Prineville

I traveled east of the mountains sunday to visit the Porters and work with Traci and Tim on creating possibilities for their backyard to hopefully include an arbor, dry stream bed, spacious planting beds, a location for a fire pit, a possible location for a fountain, an outdoor hot tub location, and cement steps from the adult's bedroom down to the hot tub area. I really enjoyed my visit, the hospitality given, their wonderful bed, and a short visit with Christian, India, and Tucker in the snow at their neighborhood baseball diamond. Their Doberman, Greta is long and sleTheir Doberman, Greta is long and ek, and an enormously energetic "puppy". We were able to locate professional people to remove the lawn in preparation for the patio areas, remove soil for the dry creek bed, establish the planting areas, build the arbor, with Tim and I as "helpers-golfers". Traci was going to talk more with the carpenter about the arbor and needed to find a reputable electrician for the hot tub and fountain. Traci and I measured the necessary dimensions so that I can graph out possible lengths, widths, and depths of the planting areas and dry creek bed.

So, my stay was exciting and Traci was wonderfully focused, organized, and positive about each aspect of her plan and I really enjoyed working as her apprentice and I found our personal time together refreshing and enlightening. Love to the Porters, Love to my middle daughter, and love to all. Larry

Thanks for the help

From Sister/Aunt/Chris:

Want to thank Larry and Melanie for helping me with the Blog..I appreciate your time, and I guess you can tell I figured it out.

Give our best to Hazel: hope she's feeling better soon.

Bye, Chris

Mocha colored

Greyson and I just got done putting the first coat of some mocha colored paint up in our bedroom. I had moved all the furniture off the walls and into the middle of the room. That gave us a narrow strip around the perimeter for doing the painting. After stooping and stretching for about an hour Greyson decided we needed some gin and sandwiches to finish the job. So we now have the first coat up and are feeling pretty good. It needs one more coat but my husband is trying to postpone until tomorrow for the second coat. I don't think I can wait that long to get everything back in order.

We had snowflakes at our house this morning. The weatherman said it was supposed to have sunbreaks but I haven't seen that happen. I think I am going to give up and get the fire going. Take care all, Melanie.

Jennifer's message: Date change for Emma's birthday party

We have now changed the date to Feb. 4^th starting 11 a.m.  This time is better for small children and for their mother (who will need to clean the house).  I hope some of you can make it.  I will be inviting a few friends from school that have children. 

Update from Mom

Since Grandma isn't telling anything, I'll update you all on all the gory details of her personal and private health issues. As soon as the surgeon said she could eat bulkier food, the food no longer went down. So now it looks as if she'll need another endoscopy where the other doctor uses the scope to stretch the opening at the bottom of the esophagus. Apparently they cinched it up too tight. So she is back on a liquid diet. Hard to get much nutrition out of jello and chicken broth. Well, she does drink the Ensure which is scandalously overpriced.

Dad/Larry bought me a new 3-pack of reading glasses from Costco and I think my cold is better today. I haven't developed the cough that usually lingers for 3 weeks after a cold but I'm sure it will appear soon. I got a flu shot last Tuesday and am counting the days until it actually starts to offer some protection.

My book of sudoku's is finished so I'm suffering some withdrawal only having 1 puzzle a day out of the newspaper. From about Thursday on they are challenging, but Monday through Wednesday are hardly worth the trouble.

Now I'm going to force myself to go do 3 weeks worth of ironing.

SPRAD exposed

S = Sharp
P = Porter
R = Rudd
A = and
D = Dean

clgar is Larry
Grandfar is Hazel (short for Grandma Far Away)
Meldog is Melanie
grudd is Greyson
soggy pete is Traci
Jenn is Jennifer but she often post via Melanie and forgets to tell us in her message
I can comment as myself but new posts look like they are from Larry
I forget what Tim's name is --whatever I haven't mentioned so far
Brian reads but doesn't post

messages received by dad

To my family (and dad J)…I haven’t been home before 8 all this week (except Monday- I think that was a 6:00 or so night).  Anyway I squeezed in a couple hours today with the girls from noon until Brian came home around 3- after taking a personal day to chaperone Gabe to the play Charlottes web at the Keller auditorium.  It was very good.  My bus leaves in about 30 minutes- so I thought I’d check my school e-mail and make sure no disasters happened while I was out.  I forwarded dad’s fire concern on to Brian…and its perfect timing because Nicholas is in the middle of his BAT training.  I’ll let you all figure out what that acronym stands for…anyway- he (Nicholas) got 100% on his last school project on BAT…and when he returns on Monday I’ll make sure he watches Brian fix the dryer.  Child update: Kalena stands up from any spot on the floor now and will just stand there holding a toy, or her arm up in the air- but you can’t get her to take a step.  Emma still refuses potty training- we’re approaching her birthday- which by the way will be Friday, Feb. 3^rd from 5 to 9 or so…all family members are welcome.  Last year- the only ones who were able to make it were Melanie and Greyson…I felt very bad for her- luckily she was too young to know.  I’m once again inviting all the girls at her day care- and I’ll send an invitation to Aunt Sharon and Kim’s liitle girls.  Gabe seemed to enjoy the play- but I think he was most interested in talking with Lauren (a tall cute brown haired girl).  That’s about all I have time for- need to run and pick up my blank stat sheets for tonight’s games from the printer.  Hope you all enjoy the three day weekend.  I sure will.  We have one more week until finals.  Yikes. Take care. Jenn

Daughterly

Well this daughter is fine. I was unaware that DIY tips on dryer safety needed a timely response. However I will make sure to get my screwdriver out this weekend and give a look. I noticed that my phone wasn't ringing off the hook with volunteers to watch Ada next weekend. She was really quite hurt and has fallen into a funk after she realized that you all don't love her.

I have started a home improvement notebook. I have started clipping out pictures of projects I would someday like to do (or have done proffesionly) in my house. That includes all the floors, the kitchen, new downstairs tub, new upstairs bath, new chandelier and add other lighting, new front deck w/covered entry area, and a new built in entertainment area under the stairs. I think that is all. I am figuring around $20000 if I do a bunch of labor myself. Guess I better get a second job and brush up on my remodeling skills.

It has been raining non-stop for weeks now. I am sick of it. Even the chickens were complaining. Our rooster is starting to get a little rough. If he doesn't watch himself he will be a free range rooster pretty soon. And from past experience we know that doesn't work out to well for poultry at my house.
Take care all- Melanie

Things seem a little sparse here

What's going on everybody? I'm at my second day of classes, both of which fall on tuesday and thursday. I had to get up in front of the class to share some story that happened to me in life. I skipped over the more entertaining "found the dead body when I was 11" to tell "splashed ink on a bully's face in high school". It was pretty sad. It takes me about a month at minimum to get to know people enough to share much about myself, so in the public speaking context I was pretty general and impersonal, the second day into the term. It was a pretty lame story telling session. Also, the teacher was trying to wrap the class up so I skipped any parts that could be considered engaging.

From Jennifer: I need the address for Grandma Sharp

My Christmas/school pictures just returned to my home that I sent to Grandma.  Could someone e-mail me her address so I can check what I have written incorrectly on the envelope.  Thanks- then I’ll mail them off again.  My e-mail at school is jennifer.dean@camas.wednet.edu.

The winter blah's

We lost our power again last night. Luckily it came on just in time for me to get ready for work this morning. It was a blustery wet night with a forecast of non-stop rain in sight. The news station was saying 24 straight days of precipitation last I heard.

So anyway, nothing new happening here. Work is very slow but they keep sending a paycheck so I guess I shouldn't complain. I have a course in Seattle next week and Greyson is going to go with me. I think we are going to try to catch the "Defending the caveman" show while we are there. Also if anyone wants to come stay at our house for a couple of days and house/cat/dog sit that would be awesome. We are leaving Wednesday night and retuning on Saturday. I start to worry leaving Ada alone more than 2 nights. I could pay for gas if someone does volunteer. Maybe rent some movies for you and stock the ice cream and pop corn supplies.

Greyson went back to school this morning. He is taking his last 2 classes this term and he will be able to graduate. I sent him some pictures of some local ridgeback puppies that are available. He said not right now. He wanted to wait until he got some work and money coming in. I thought it would be the perfect time since he would have the time to be at home with it. Either way with that response he kind of agreed to the idea at some point:)

oh, how they eat!

After hanging out with the Dean's most the day, my husband returned home around dinner time. With him were two boys with video games and a change of clothes in tow. I am quickly informed that we are having a gaming night. Sounds good to me. Since I had not had dinner I asked Nicholas if they had eaten yet. He responds, well kind of but I will be hungry soon. Greyson responds seperatly that they have all eaten dinner and should be good for the night. So having not eaten yet, I decide that instead of getting my dinner all ready and then having the 3 of them steal it, I would just go ahead and make a kid friendly dinner (no cheese or other weird item). And just in case they would get hungry I made 2 corndogs for me and 1 for each of them, and for good measure I threw in a bag of tator tots. Not 10 minutes later greyson walks in the kitchen and says "that smells good, can I have one". And then right as the bell is about to ring Nicholas says "I am getting kind of hungry, can I get a corndog?". The bell immediately rings and I serve up the feast. Gabe is too busy playing so he gives Nicholas his corndog which goes down as quickly as his first. The plate of tator tots now sits as if there were never any there. For the moment the group is satisfied, I just don't know what we are going to do a couple hours from now, much less in the morning. How anyone can keep these boys fed is a miracle. I just hope I can keep them alive through the night.

Tears for Sears

So we had a little diswasher snafu last night. Our new kenmore decided it was time for a break (no pun intended), and flashed the clean light without responding to my polite request. "Would you kindly scrub the refried beans off of my coffee mug, mr. Kenmore, because I'm kind of in a hurry? I have cribbage to play with my lovely wife." I asked. It said na uh.

I called Sears last night, and got on about 15-20 minutes of holding with a 20 second ad, spoken by our well-known, all too perky marketing lady, that we have all heard, repeated over and over and over again. Now, with broken dishwashers, I have no patience for this, and I was ready to strangle the nothingness out of this recorded personality. This lady I imagine, is lily white, a short brunette dorothy hamil do, with tiny feet, and screams at the recording crew when they f up and bring her Dasani. Are any of you getting sick of the customer service with these companies? This really is burning me more than ever and I thought if anything that I'd be calming down as I get older. So, I never did get through, until this morning. The dishwasher is now reset and working fine.


>>>>>>Now, this is the exchange I had after filing a complaint about this with "the appropriate customer relations" folks. Read from the bottom up if you have nothing better to do<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Dear Sears Holdings Corporation,

To have an automaton repeatedly claim it appreciates my business doesn't make it so. Even now, a generic pre-written response. Well, I really do appreciate your business, and I will tell everyone so. "Oh, how much I care for the continued succes of Sears Holding Corporation" with a huge pre-formatted grin on my face.

Thank you! If I wanted this experience, I'd watch THX 1138. You should check it out, whoever you are. Ok why am I recommending a movie to a robot?

Greyson

> Please include the following line in all replies.
> Tracking number: UT20060104_0000016481
>
> Dear Mr. Greyson,
>
> Thank you for contacting this office and sharing your feedback. We have
> noted your comments, and will share them with the interested parties for
> proper consideration.
>
> Please be assured that we value your comments and suggestions. By sharing
> your feedback with us, you have made it possible for us to address the
> issues and/or rectify the situation. Further, your forthright comments
> will enable Sears to achieve excellence in everything we do.
>
> We value your relationship with Sears, and hope that you will continue to
> make Sears Holdings Corporation your choice for quality and value.
>
> Sincerely,
> National Customer Relations
> Sears Holdings Corporation
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: greysonr@direcway.com
>> Sent: Jan 4, 2006 8:37:22 PM CST
>> To: homecentral@customerservice.sears.com
>>

Comments = To hear the same 20 second advertisement loop for any waiting time
beyond 2 minutes is both offensive and tacky, especially given I'm calling
for repairs on a malfunctioning 3 month old kenmore dishwasher. I waited 15
minutes before giving up. And yes, you HAVE to listen to it for fear of
missing the customer service rep.

Football

Did anyone out there (maybe Tim or Christain) watch and appreciate the Rose Bowl game? Dad went to bed with a cold at about 8 p.m., and Katia and Charlie just aren't into football at all.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggedy Jig

Post by Mom:

The Larry Sharps also stayed up until midnight for the first time in at least a decade. We spent New Years Eve at Kah-Nee-Tah complete with party hats and noisemakers with the Porters and actually stayed up for the drawing they had at 1:00 a.m. for $2006. Amazingly, we didn't win. We had a room there but the Tim & Traci had to drive home in the wee hours. We saw some snow today on our way over the pass at Mt. Hood but the roads and traffic weren't too bad.

Made it home safe and sound after making the grand circle to deliver all the items left from Christmas. Charlie got a new coat before we left and still had it on when we returned. It fits very well and is very becoming on her - the black color is slimming. I hope she and Katia didn't have too many howling sessions while we were gone.

The new refrigerator is still working. Tomorrow I'm going to fill it up with healthy food. I'm going to designate one day as snack food day and save any "bad food" for that one day. That way I can just put off my cravings and maybe not give in to them more than once a week. Our gym went out of business so thank goodness for our elliptical machine and the weights.

Happy New Year everyone!