Introducing Saffron Viola Blume

Here's the first of many pictures of the new Baby Blume.

You'll find some more on JoAnne's photo page -

http://picasaweb.google.com/joblume24/Day1SaffronViola

Proud Mom and Dad with little Saffron

Grandma and Grandpa take turns
introducing themselves to the newest family member.

She's Here!!!

Today we welcome a brand new member to our clan.
(This time it's not a Dachshund puppy)
At about 4am Saturday (August 30, 2008) Derek and Jeanna became Mom and Dad to Saffron Viola Blume. The vital statistics are: weight - 7lbs. 3ozs. height - 19 1/2 inches. I'm not sure about the motivation for naming her Saffron. I didn't think that Mom and Dad were old enough to relate to Donovan's song, "Mellow Yellow", from the 60's so I immediately ran to Wikipedia. This didn't help much but I did learn that Saffron is a spice derived from a Crocus flower and is the most expensive spice by weight. No doubt this little 7 pound 3 ounce bundle of Saffron is just as priceless to our entire family. The middle name, Viola, is quite understandable. Both JoAnne's and my Mother are named Viola. (How's that for a coincidence?) We all look forward to seeing how Prince Snoopy and Princess Tina welcome the newcomer to their realm. Seeing as how we just received the news a little over an hour ago, no pictures are available but be assured that there will be plenty coming in the near future. In the mean time...."Here's Saffron!"

Oh Yeah!!!

That's all I have to say after last night's "come from behind" Grand Slam.

Bark, Bark, Bark!

Wow! I haven't posted for a long time. But I do have all kinds of excuses. There's been a Baptism, the Lands' End Harris Park Sale, a couple of Cub's games, a surprise birthday party, an ongoing baby wait and most of all, a BIG "Blog Block". The baptism involved one really cute kid from Seattle. Caiden, the son of Sally's best friend Lisa, was Baptized at our old church down in Arlington Heights, Illinois. (Photos at left show Caiden before and after Baptism) It was a quick one day roundtrip drive to the Chicago area for Jo and I, but a long trip back to Minneapolis for Sally and Uncas.
Although I promised myself that I'd never go back to "real" work again, I broke down and volunteered to work at the big Lands' End warehouse sale. With all of you as my witnesses, I solemnly vow to never do that again. After one day of standing in a tent hanging pants on hangers for eight hours I could hardly walk across the parking lot to my car. (Old feet aren't built for eight hours of standing.) Fortunately, after two and a half days the sale was going so well that my services weren't needed any longer. It only took me three or four days to recuperate. After adding up the purchases that Jo and I made, it cost me less than a hundred bucks to work for the two and a half days.
The two Cub's games were, well, typical Cub's games. Win a few, lose a few. Actually, win one, lose one. Nothing out of the ordinary other than a close encounter with a linedrive foul ball, a
one hour rain delay and a nonstop jabbering lady behind us. But, the trip to Chicago, in itself, was kind of special. We found a little "Boutique" hotel just off of the Outer Drive, walking distance to Wrigley Field, was accessible to wonderful restaurants and just across The Drive from the lake front. The games were just the tip of the weekend iceberg. Since around April the kids and I have been planning a surprise birthday party for Jo's sixtieth. My main job was to get Jo out of the house for a couple of days and deliver her back home on Saturday afternoon while Sally and Uncas would drive down to Fennimore on Friday to prepare food, decorations etc. and Derek and Jeanna were supposed to have a baby. Mine was the easy job. The Cub's games would take care Thursday and Friday. Friday night, my sister Mary and Hubby Jim would go to dinner with us and put us up at their house for the night. Saturday morning we visited my mom. This is where things got a little goofy. Unknown to Jo, my sister, my nephew, his wife and son were waiting for us to leave so they could head up to the party. We were delayed getting over to visit my mom and before I knew it, my stalling tactics had backfired and suddenly I was running late. In an effort to waste some time I had suggested that we go to my old neighborhood to take some pictures of the changes that have taken place in the area. But, after visiting my mom, we were already close to an hour behind schedule. Mary and her family were on their way and many of the "Surprisers" were arriving for the party. When I started East towards the picture taking excuse, I realized that I had to get home as soon as possible and going to take pictures would put us over two hours late with forty some people waiting for lunch. I wisely became violently ill and suggested that we head straight home and skip the photo shoot until sometime when I felt better. Jo went for it and even asked if she should drive. Not necessary. Besides she probably wouldn't have driven as fast as I did. I didn't stop until the "Low Fuel" light went on in Madison and while Jo was in the convenience store getting a soda "for my stomach" I called Sally to alert her of our position. We made it home just about an hour late but the party was a success and Jo was completely surprised.
As of this posting Derek and Jeanna are still awaiting the arrival of "Baby Blume".
OH! And the bark, bark thing... It seems that after the party was over and the guests had left Jo, Sally, Uncas and I were rehashing the events of the day. I noticed a baggie on the kitchen counter containing, what I thought was, chocolate covered peanuts. Not being able to resist one of my favorite munchies, I opened the bag and popped one of the little delights into my mouth. It took mere seconds for me to realize that that little morsel wasn't a chocolate covered peanut, but a liver doggy treat for little Sammy the dachshund puppy. Ich, spit, yuck!
Here's some pics to look at while I go gargle.

Traffic jams in Chicago aren't limited to the Expressways.

The unsuspecting Birthday Girl enjoys the Lake Front

It must have been something I ate!

Open That Checkbook, Lands' End!

I've been biting my lip, holding my tongue, even crossing my legs and in general, keeping my mouth shut concerning Wisconsin's "Favreite" son. Being a Bears fan, I've had my opinion about the on again, off again retirement. Over the course of the last month or so, I've sided with the Bret then with the Pack then back again to Bret and back to the pack. It wasn't until late this past week that I realized how much this conflict could effect me. Rumor has it that the Packers have offered Bret twenty million dollars not come out of retirement. How does this effect me? Well, I'm retired and Lands' End has moved along without me. So, I'm in the process of preparing a letter to them threatening coming out of retirement. Sure they have anew team on board and they have their game in place. I didn't miss a game for ten years (only one short stint on the DL), I ad libbed most of the time and threw my share of interceptions. I'm qualified! Let's just say that I've got an itch to Art Direct. If I can get Eddie Lambert to reinstate me . . . for a large chunk of cash, I will agree to stay retired. I am willing to negotiate the exact figure. I can manage on less than twenty mil. (Quite a bit less) Unless LE comes up with an offer, I will show up a the Annual Warehouse Clearance Event this week. Until they come to their senses and make me an offer, I'll be there everyday working out with the new team, matching them bargain for bargain. If all goes according to plan, my future blogs will be posted from Maui.

"I got the itch to Art Direct again!"

Swish, Swosh, Swish!!!

I'm not sure if that's the sound of the Cubs sweeping the series with the Brewers or the sound of the Brewer's bats missing fastballs and sliders. At any rate, it's been a pleasant week up here in "Cheese World". Admittedly, the Brews threw some pretty heavy stuff at our Boys in Blue. A two hundred ninety pound, seemingly unbeatable, hurler, an All Star game starter, last year's rookie of the year and a Prince of a first baseman. And on the other side of the field, Bang! Crack! Slam! and almost, Ouch! Even the Chicago style Hot Dog took two out of three sausage races from the Brat. Brewer fans should look at the brighter side of this. The crew will be to able take advantage of the early hunting season in October. Maybe CC, Ben, Ryan and Corey can join Bret out in the woods. Well it's time to suit up and get the old TV warmed up for todays game.
See ya in da bleachers!!!

All was quiet in Fennimore Thursday evening . . .

except on the corner of 10th and Grant!