Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Hello, it's Rose here with a quick update. This has been one hellish week! We had terrible storms in St. Louis last Wednesday, and they knocked out our power (and about 500,000 others' power) until Monday morning this week. Sue, Shirley, and I toughed it out here until Friday late afternoon when we left for Sue's house at the Lake. Chris, bless his heart, came by Thursday and took all our frozen food to keep in their freezer for us. As a result, we didn't lose a lot. Once at the lake, we just forgot it all and had a wonderful time. One special pleasure was having the opportunity to know Maddog. He is a sweetheart! Shirley and I came home Monday evening. Sue stayed and will remain at the Lake through Kids' Week next week.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Here is a tally of senate votes yesterday for and against the expansion of stem cell research. It passed with unusual bipartisan support.
Roll Call Vote No. 206 Tally

Yea : 63 Members
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)Ted Stevens (R-AK)Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)Mark Pryor (D-AR)John McCain (R-AZ)Barbara Boxer (D-CA)Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)Ken Salazar (D-CO)Christopher Dodd (D-CT)Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)Joseph Biden (D-DE)Thomas Carper (D-DE)Bill Nelson (D-FL)Daniel Akaka (D-HI)Daniel Inouye (D-HI)Tom Harkin (D-IA)Richard Durbin (D-IL)Barack Obama (D-IL)Evan Bayh (D-IN)Richard Lugar (R-IN)Mary Landrieu (D-LA)Edward Kennedy (D-MA)John Kerry (D-MA)Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)Paul Sarbanes (D-MD)Susan Collins (R-ME)Olympia Snowe (R-ME)Carl Levin (D-MI)Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)Mark Dayton (D-MN)Thad Cochran (R-MS)Trent Lott (R-MS)
Max Baucus (D-MT)Richard Burr (R-NC)Kent Conrad (D-ND)Byron Dorgan (D-ND)Judd Gregg (R-NH)Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)Robert Menendez (D-NJ)Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)Harry Reid (D-NV)Hillary Clinton (D-NY)Charles Schumer (D-NY)Gordon Smith (R-OR)Ron Wyden (D-OR)Arlen Specter (R-PA)Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)Jack Reed (D-RI)Tim Johnson (D-SD)Lamar Alexander (R-TN)Bill Frist (R-TN)Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)Robert Bennett (R-UT)Orrin Hatch (R-UT)John Warner (R-VA)James Jeffords (I-VT)Patrick Leahy (D-VT)Maria Cantwell (D-WA)Patty Murray (D-WA)Russ Feingold (D-WI)Herbert Kohl (D-WI)Robert Byrd (D-WV)John Rockefeller (D-WV)
Nay : 37 Members
Jeff Sessions (R-AL)Richard Shelby (R-AL)Jon Kyl (R-AZ)Wayne Allard (R-CO)Mel Martinez (R-FL)Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)Johnny Isakson (R-GA)Charles Grassley (R-IA)Larry Craig (R-ID)Mike Crapo (R-ID)Sam Brownback (R-KS)Pat Roberts (R-KS)Jim Bunning (R-KY)Mitch McConnell (R-KY)David Vitter (R-LA)Norm Coleman (R-MN)Christopher Bond (R-MO)Jim Talent (R-MO)Conrad Burns (R-MT)
Elizabeth Dole (R-NC)Chuck Hagel (R-NE)Ben Nelson (D-NE)John Sununu (R-NH)Pete Domenici (R-NM)John Ensign (R-NV)Mike DeWine (R-OH)George Voinovich (R-OH)Tom Coburn (R-OK)James Inhofe (R-OK)Rick Santorum (R-PA)Jim DeMint (R-SC)Lindsey Graham (R-SC)John Thune (R-SD)John Cornyn (R-TX)George Allen (R-VA)Michael Enzi (R-WY)Craig Thomas (R-WY)

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Hi, it's Sue here with a quick update. I am in St. Louis, having returned from the Lake on Sunday. Maddog and I have been spending as much time at the lake as we can, having lots of guests. Dave Smith and his two sons, Alex and Brett, with two of their friends came last week for three days. Then on Friday the Cullinanes and Suzanne and children and a friend from Washington, D.C. came for the weekend. The weather has been hotter than blue blazes (if you get my drift) so being on the water has been heavenly.

One of the joys of the lake continues to be my wonderful neighbors. Dave and Judy Meisel have been extremely thoughtful and helpful. Maddog has been working for another neighbor, Jack Maher, and hopes to get more jobs locally.

Scott, Sherry, Chris, and Shelly and various of their friends made their 15th annual float trip wiffle ball trip/tournament this past weekend on the Gasconade River. The tournament winners this year were Mark Goldman and Mike Lynch, Maddog's brother. All were tired and hot and sunburned and happy to get home.

Chris and Shelly are headed to Florida this weekend for their 5th anniversary celebration.

Margaret and Norm have spent a lot of time recently at their lake lot. Catrina, Robbie and children joined them part of the time as did Sally and family.

We hear from Pete and Joe regularly. Joe continues to work on family history, and we'll add his information as he provides it. Janet is canning stuff from the garden, like Swiss chard, whatever that is. If it is anything like Janet's pickles, we want some.

Bernie called on Saturday. Various of his and Maudie's offspring were in and out, gathering for a boating outing that weekend. Bernie is doing well and sounded really good.

This month I will be completely vacating the Oakland house. Chris and Shelly have rented it to Mark Goldman and his roommate, Scott Cantor. Mark has been really good with helping me sort and get things moved. For the final push next week, I have Candace and Maddog lined up.

Beginning July 29, we will have our 20-something annual Kids' Week at the Lake, even those the kids are all grown up now. Leslie Heilman-King is going to come for a few days to keep me company in among all the younger people. Rose and Shirley are looking forward to keeping Jalen and Brayden for a few days while their dad is at the lake.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Next week the U.S. Senate will debate and vote on a bill to expand stem cell research. This research has been hampered by a very narrow view, fostered mainly by a small far-right segment of the population who wish to 'protect human life.' These people worry that the research would use embryo cells. What they fail to say is that tens of thousands of these cells now are kept in a frozen state and are periodically discarded. Far better that they be put to the use of reducing suffering and curing disease. There is an excellent article in today's WASHINGTON POST if you wish to read more about the promise, the science, and the politics of the issue. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/14/AR2006071401380.html I URGE YOU TO WRITE OR CALL YOUR U.S. SENATORS TO LET THEM KNOW THIS BILL WILL AFFECT DIRECTLY MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY.

Saturday, July 08, 2006

We've had a new suggestion for a new blog name--THE TURNBOW TIMES. It does have a fine ring to it. Before we change the name again, I am inviting anyone to weigh in with suggestions. When we solve some computer problems we've had of late, we'll post more photos. Meanwhile, any of you who have family reunion or other photos, forward them to me at roseholt.@aolcom or to Sue at MarthaBoaz@aol.com, and we'll eventually get them posted.
We've had a new suggestion for a new blog name--THE TURNBOW TIMES. It does have a fine ring to it. Before we change the name again, I am inviting anyone to weigh in with suggestions. When we solve some computer problems we've had of late, we'll post more photos. Meanwhile, any of you who have family reunion or other photos, forward them to me at roseholt.@aolcom or to Sue at MarthaBoaz@aol.com, and we'll eventually get them posted.