Happy birthday, Verle!
from California Malangkos

Happy Birthday, Verle

Finally on the final stretch to the big 5-0!

Hope you have a great day.

- Vern & Cindy

News from Valerie

I've seen your photos of the wedding and of Dad's slides. I recognize many of the faces from back in Winchester, but don't remember many names.
We went to Las Vegas a few weeks ago to attend Tabitha's graduation ceremony. She graduated with her MBA from the Univ. of Phoenix. She actually has 3 classes left and won't be done until Sept., but didn't want to wait until next year to go through the ceremony. She is doing very well with the company she's working with--Travelzoo.com.
Mark Jr. flew from Sioux Falls to Las Vegas that weekend, as he had just finished with his classes. Nelly, Doreen and her baby were able to fly there for the weekend, too. Little Theo is adorable! I'll have to send pictures.
Mark Sr. is finishing this quarter of classes tomorrow night. Then he takes one class this summer, but mostly will be working on his dissertation. He'll be visiting several community colleges this summer in preparation of sending out surveys in the fall for his research.
This is my last week of school. I'm already starting to plan for next school year.
Take care.
Valerie

Photos uploaded

Hi all,

I'll followup with individual emails. I've started using Picasa to organize and categorize photos, and it has an automatic upload feature to a google site. So I've begun using that. To get to it, you can go to http://picasaweb.google.com/vernon.keszler There's also a link on the right.

The album I've posted call Dad random photos came from two boxes of slides. One was labeled churches and confirmation classes; the other was apparently from a trip to the Canadian Expo and driving around the northwest. Verle is in one of the photos so may recognize some of the locations. I mainly just plucked out the ones that had mom or other family in them, and one rare one of dad, napping on a couch.

Feel free to comment on these.

- Vern

Way to go, Cindy

Here we come, Cancun Mexico!

Cindy started with Southern Living at Home (SLAH) in February, and in 4 very busy months has earned a free trip to Cancun. I get to go along, although I have to pay my own way. So, we're off to Mexico July 8 - 12. If you want to check out where we're staying, it's the all-inclusive Moon Palace Resort. Looks beautiful.

She has also achieved the next level in SLAH, known as 2-star Director. Way to go Cindy!!

- Vern

p.s. If you want to learn more about SLAH, check out her web site at www.southernlivingathome.com/cindykeszler I've also added the link on the sidebar.

New back-yard visitor/resident

Saw traces of this guy while Iva was here - several skins. Now, finally saw him long enough to get this photo.

Found out he's a harmless red-bellied watersnake - see this website to see
information and other photos.
http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/snakes/nerery.htm

A local professor says that sometimes they are more yellowish on the chin and belly like this one.
A few mornings ago, woke up to a churning pond pump - the water in the pond had gotten too low. I went out right away to add water, and took a flash-light (it was only 5:30 am) to look in on the pump. Guess who was there! He had his head poked partway into the pump compartment, and he quickly backed away. That evening, I went to check on the pump again, and he was curled up under water in the bottom of the compartment. Cindy got the neighbor (at this point, didn't know if he was harmless, or a poisonous water mocassin) to help. We scared him out of the pump, but he very quickly slipped into the pond under the big rock. We tried, but couldn't get him out of there. Haven't seen him since.