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Way To Go
Dear Jane,
I can only imagine how excited you must be to be able to do
what you want to do when you want to do it. This was not an
easy task and I bet it must also be hard to believe that 30
years have past and you wonder where they went.
The beauty of this is you are still so young and you can
really beat the system.
Jim's day is coming and maybe he will get as good a deal as
you did.
We love you and again congratulations.
Bob & Diane
PS: Beep Beep
- Saturday, February 10, 2001 at 10:24:19 (PST)
Author: bodikel@san.rr.comRETIREMENT 2001
Dearest Family,
I have waited a few weeks to type this letter, just in case
it did not happen. As of February 23, 2001, I will be
retired from General Motors. That is exactly to the day, 30
years since I first walked through the door. As some of you
know, I wasn't supposed to retire until June, but this
incredible offer came up for an early retirement and I made
the cut!! Gm was offering anyone who could retire, a 16
month layoff (with 40 hours pay) and then we would actually
retire in July of 2002. They offered 300 slots for this due
to the elimination of our third shift and I was #186!!!!!!
My Jim missed it by 32 people :( but he is very happy for
me, plus he will be able to come home to a much happier
wife. What a blessing!!!
I love you all Janie
- Saturday, February 10, 2001 at 06:42:11 (PST)
Author: CRUIZIN32@AOL.COMOK...I got it!
Wow...is that weird!!! If you type in:
www.sonic.net/sunshine/photoalbum/letter and click GO the
circle letter, it will come up BUT at the site before Danny
& Jill's wedding...and yet if you go up to CONTRIBUTE on
that same page and enter a letter,it will come up current
(like what I just did prior to this new letter...
If you type in:
www.sonic.net/sunshine/photoalbum/letter/display1.cig?23538
and click GO then it comes up current. Is there any
explanation for that Scott( if you're reading this)?? I
just wondered... Now that I have the correct address
without just clicking on my FAVORITES ( which was set up
for me a long time ago) I can write it out for others who
don't have it... Sorry for the confusion everyone....I love
you all...HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!! Love,Me
- Friday, February 09, 2001 at 05:07:39 (PST)
Author: jamg1971@aol.comThis is just a test
hello everybody...
I am trying to figure out what the circle letter address is
when you write it out for someone to copy...I wrote out
www.sonic.net/sunshine/photoalbum/letter and pushed GO and
the letter came up but not at the current site...it came up
at a letter before Danny & Jill's wedding and I wondered
why... so I am now writing this letter to see where it will
pop up in respect to the CURRENT position on the
letter....I hope you all understand what I'm doing... love,
Mary
- Friday, February 09, 2001 at 04:42:11 (PST)
Author: jamg1971@aol.comNo Boundries(ALMOST!!)
Hello once again...
In response to Lil Nan's last letter ...Other than R or X
rated material which I'm sure we're ALL smart enough to
avoid... I think the sky's the Limit!!! Let's get WAY
CREATIVE!!! I can't wait to see them!!!I was just letting
ANYONE who wanted to know how I did the original T-shirt
designs... in case they wanted to know...GO FOR IT GUYS!!!
It's gettin' down to business now and the next meeting I'm
sure we WILL get ALOT accomplished!!! Till then...Love to
you all! Mary
- Sunday, February 04, 2001 at 17:18:33 (PST)
Author: jamg1971@aol.comlet the contest begin!!!
note from lil nancy:
first off, sounds like it should be go... sounds unanimous
(sp?) - who doesn't love a little competition and with so
many responses to the idea, I think it will come out GRAND!!
Mary.. are you setting boundaries???? does it have to be
made with paint - how about t-shirt transfers - getting
your logo drawn out in full color and take it to a print
shop and make transfers out them, iron on - wa - la???
or perhaps combine both... iron on then paint an outline
around the logo for that 3-D look - I think the
possibilities are endless.
Uncle Bob's idea of the 'family' song and the t-shirt
competition, and the family joke-off :op
this reunion is going to be a blast. I definately think we
should document this for Andy and Lynna who won't be able
to make it.
I've been doing a little research on 'family reunions' on
the internet and there's tons of stuff and GREAT ideas,
which I'll bring to the table at the next meeting.
okay - sal you've given us a challenge... we must top the
january lotto contribution - what pressure!!!
well i feel better now that i've put my 2 cents worth in
type and love
nancy
- Sunday, February 04, 2001 at 11:40:27 (PST)
Author: lyons10@msn.comSTEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON PRINTING YOUR FAMILY LOGO!!!
Hey everybody...
Once you get your FINAL design that your family ALL agrres
on... DRAW it out on white paper in BLACK magic marker
(fine line) . Then get a light box which consists of a
three sided box made from 1x2 inch sides and luon (thin)
wood for the bottom and plexiglass for the top...you then
slide a flourescent light into the box and then pull your T-
shirt over the box with your logo in a plastic coated cover
sheet ( like in school) to protect it. Then go to Frank's
Nursery or Michael's craft supply and get BLACK T-shirt
paint in the fine tipped bottles... Then proceed carefully
to draw out your design and DRY it with a hair dryer before
pulling it off the box or let it sit overnight...Once it
is dry you can fill in your design with colors being
careful to dry each color before going to the next color...
That is the best way...You can trace your Logos through
your Light box and it will come out JUST RIGHT!!! IF you
have any qhestions...Call me...GOOD LUCK!!! Love, Mary
- Saturday, February 03, 2001 at 23:35:24 (PST)
Author: JAMG1971@AOL.COMREUNION 2001
THE NICHOLS/HULL/GONZALES FAMILY IS IN FAVOR OF TWELVE
DIFFERENT DESIGNED TEE-SHIRTS. AND HAVING THEM JUDGED IS
EVEN BETTER!!! WE WILL HAVE A VOTE ON THIS AT THE UPCOMING
REUNION MEETING FOR SURE!!!
WE LOVE YOU ALL!! JIM AND JANIE
- Saturday, February 03, 2001 at 14:52:31 (PST)
Author: CRUIZIN32@AOL.COMJanuary Lotto winners
Hello wonderful and crazy family!!
Congratulations to Bob Boudreau and Kelly McCann for
winning. What a good month to win too!! Everyone chipped
in so well it was the biggest lotto ever. YEAH !! I LOVE
all the letters and silliness going on. I really like the
joke contest idea !! Keep it up, all this hype makes what
I'm doing that much more fun!!
This months lotto letter went out today, Saturday 1/3/01.
There's some very important info in there so be sure to
read up. Thanks again. I love you all !! xxoo Sal
- Saturday, February 03, 2001 at 14:32:33 (PST)
Author: sallylucca@aol.comREUNION 2001
Yes! We are going to need T-shirts! I loved my old
reunion T-shirt. I think all the kids will need to be
randomly tested for steroids and other performance
enhancing drugs if the competition get too serious! A sun
tanning contest sound pretty good to me...perhaps Jennifer
and I can get a head start! As far as a comedy/joke
competition; can anyone beat Michael Stevenson? Looking
forward to the big event. Love Star and Jennifer Stevenson
- Friday, February 02, 2001 at 22:27:53 (PST)
Author: jennstar@calweb.comLet the games begin!!!
ALRIGHT!!!! Now that's more like it!!! I came home from
work and was VERY EXCITED to see the new responses and I
simply LOVE the idea of the 12 families t-shirt design
contest!!!
CAN YOU IMAGINE how cool it will be to see the different
themes and concepts??? Even though we were in California at
the time, I remember seeing pictures of the 1976 reunion
HAT contest...Now that was cool... so the t-shirt design
contest makes me feel the same way!!! I have a feeling that
this will become the first thing to be voted for ...at
least it gets my vote!!! And the STEVENSON OLYMPICS???
ALRIGHT!!! Let the games begin!!!We will DEFINITELY talk
this one up on FEBRUARY 19th meeting....I don't know if
I'll be able to sleep till summer...just thinkin' about
it!!!
I love you all, Mary
- Friday, February 02, 2001 at 20:33:04 (PST)
Author: jamg1971@aol.comMaryland Marshalls
Hello-
We in Maryland are also very excited about the reunion.
I think the family t-shirts are a great idea, We are
talking about the 12 families right? (we already have a
prize winning idea in mind)
There is nothing better than an innocent family competition
(my children are being trained by the olympic swim team as
we speak!!)
Looking forward to June-
Kathy
- Friday, February 02, 2001 at 15:20:31 (PST)
Author: kathysmarshall@aol.comT-Shirts? We Doan Need No Stinkin T- Shirts
JUST KIDDING!
I just couldn't resist saying it : )
I think T-Shirts are a great idea. I like the individual
family design idea. Although their are some who may not
feel they have the creative bent to make them up, to that I
say, "Posh and Fie on you"! That's what would make it fun;
seeing what everyone can come up with.
I haven't seen mention of a horseshoe tournament in any of
the games. I hope that will be included.
Nancy and I are going to Australia in late May to visit
Andy and Lynna. We will have lots of pictures to
show everybody. So far their new assignment sounds a lot
safer and they seem to be enjoying the challenge of coming
up with new programs to work on.
Matt & Amy (the ones with the bunny and the cat - not the
ones with the kid and a half) have settled into life in a
foreign country (while at the same time living in Canada).
They are learning to put up with and being totally
frustrated by some Quebecers' rudeness and disdain
for English speaking people, worse, American English
speakers. But, I'll let Matt explain all that in his own
letter or at the reunion.
My dreams of becoming a dot-com millionaire golf bum are
about to go down in flames. The irony is that
PoliceOne.com has become the most viewed website for cops
on the Internet and is still growing its membership. We
just can't get anybody to invest in us until we become
profitable. So, within the month, the company will either
be sold or close its virtual doors. Either way, the current
staff (including me) will not be part of the deal. Looks
like I'll have to find a real job again. : (
That's it for now. Keep those ideas cooking
I love you all
Dan
PS I don't think ANYBODY is too busy to reply on the t-
shirt issue...just too lazy - Like Me : )
- Friday, February 02, 2001 at 08:45:12 (PST)
Author: gorecop@aol.com"T" Shirts
Well,
First I read Mary's letter and then I felt bad. But then I
read Kelly's letter and really felt bad.
I just cannot believe that we all cannot respond to
something as important as this great party we will be
holding in June.
Well, I am not being prejudice but I really like Kelly's
idea about T-Shirts and having a judging contest to see who
may have been the most creative.
I would like to see who is in favor of this idea. Either
way we all must have t shirts on Saturday and I promise
that there will be a deadline of March 1st. to either bring
your own or have Mary get them from her guy.
Already being into February the time is starting to move
quickly. It might not be a bad idea if we do offer a small
incentive to some of the games we will play. Sort of like a
STEVENSON OLYMPICS. Mayby moreso for the younger kids but
make it special for them. Swimming contest, running
contest, relay contest.
For us older guys we could have a joke telling contest,
clean jokes only, and if you want to make things really
difficult we could have a prize for the best Stevenson
family story, to be judged by the nieces and nephews.
One of the other important things is keeping Andy and Leine
informed either by pictures or by vidioes, if they have any
way of watching them.
I feel like a kid waiting for Santa to come to our party.
Lets start keeping in touch much more frequently.
I love you all,
Bob
- Friday, February 02, 2001 at 06:25:20 (PST)
Author: bodikel@san.rr.comOne Response? :(
Hello again...
Since I last wrote...Kelly is the only one who responded
about the T-shirts...I think her idea is VERY COOL but not
hearing from anyone else makes me wonder if the t-shirt
idea is something the majority isn't interested in...
please let me know... just jot down a word or too... I
think this could be a fun thing and am hoping that you've
all just been too busy to respond.... let me know...Love to
you all, Aunt Mary
- Friday, February 02, 2001 at 04:14:05 (PST)
Author: jamg1971@aol.comThoughts on Games at the Reunion
Hello,
Just had a few thoughts on the games for the reunion. We
could have a Bacci Ball tournament. Water ballon toss for
the little kids. Bobbing for apples, potato sak races, or
human wheelbarrel races. There could be a section at the
reunion where there are board games set up for anyone to
play at any given time. It would be fun to have families
against other families playing pictionary and again make it
a tournament.
These are just a few. I know I am at a disadvantage by not
being able to participate locally, but if I can do anything
to assist in the planning or sending R.S.V.P. notices or
calling anyone, please do not hesitate to let me know.
It might be fun to have each individual family come up with
there own theme/idea for the T-shirts, and turn that into a
contest. Having a few individuals to judge each family on
that Saturday. Maybe there could be a small incentive for
the best.
Hope everyone is doing great. I know everyone says this,
but I am so very excited for the reuion. It can't come
soon enough!
Love You All
Kelly
- Thursday, February 01, 2001 at 21:58:48 (PST)
Author: Mccannk11@aol.comAN OFFICIAL COUNT!!!
Hello Family..
A few days ago I mailed out a letter to the out-of-town
brothers to ask who from their family will be coming to the
reunion...We need an official count A.S.A.P. but for
everyone IN town if you want to send Aunt Janie your
response also that would be great... CRUIZIN32@aol.com is
her address and let her know... We had a VERY fun meeting
at Aunt Sal's last Sunday and the excitement is BUILDING!!!
So please get your responses in to ANYTHING we ask
pertaining to the REUNION ok? (Thanks, in advance!!)
ALSO... WE would like to know if the majority of the family
would like a FAMILY REUNION T-SHIRT commemorating the EVENT.
We have some cool logo ideas but AGAIN this is a family
participation "thing" so we need EVERYONE'S input...even
the little kids!...
If you all vote YES on the T-shirt ( which would probably
officially be worn on SATURDAY the 16th) then I would even
like to see some other LOGO ideas!!! I know there are many
ARTISTS out there amongst the 154 people attending (if ALL
family members come) so COME ON...send me your ideas
JAMG1971 @aol.com TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!!!
Also any ideas for games etc.... SEND EM ON!!! WE NEED
YOU!!! WE LOVE YOU!!! WE WANT TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU...
(NOW... to the tune of the Christmas song...)
and so...WE'RE offering this simple phrase to all from 1
to 92...although it's been said MANY TIMES...MANY WAYS...
LET US HEAR... FROM YOUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!
with love,
YOUR FAMILY REUNION COMMITTEE
- Thursday, January 25, 2001 at 05:08:44 (PST)
Author: jamg1971@aol.comWe're Back online...FINALLY!!!!!
HELLO EVERYBODY...
Man..It has been exactly a month since we lost our Modem
and we just got it back today!!! I feel like I lost my
connection to everyone...Amazing how we now even take our
computers for granted!!!
In any case...It's GREAT to be back and I'll try to catch
up on ALL the letters I never was able to respond to...
But it's late and I've got to get to bed... so maybe
tomorrow! I love your idea Bob... How COOL!!! We'll be
workin' on that one soon! See ya all later...I love you all!
Mary
- Monday, January 22, 2001 at 18:02:31 (PST)
Author: jamg1971@aol.comReunion 2001
Bob...
I love the idea of the family parody. How much fun could
that be, to let everyone know about your family and be
silly doing it!! We had a meeting at the Lucca's yesterday
and we hope to start getting some concrete plans going real
soon! The main thing that we have to find out, is exactly
how many people are coming for sure! The next meeting will
be at the Nichols' on Sunday February 19th and we are all
open for feedback. Love to you all and let's make this
month's lottery the biggest ever!!!
Janie and Jim
- Monday, January 22, 2001 at 12:48:31 (PST)
Author: cruizin32@aol.comHelp
Hi to my family.
This letter is really directed to Scott. It seems that
Kelly cannot get into the web site since she got rid of
RoadRunner. When she types in the family address it tells
her it is not a good address.
She
types:HTTP://www.sonic.net/sunshine/photoalbum/letter/letter
.htm Is this the right address? I know you will figure this
out.
Now to family business of another topic. I thought it would
be fun if all the families, at the reunion, were to write a
parady about their families and we can have one huge family
nite and then you can either sing the parady or recite it.
I would welcome your feedback.
The time is getting short and I hope everyone is making
plans to attend this "ONCE AND A LIFETIME" event.
I know that other families in the world have reunions but I
can only believe that this will be the coolest family
reunion in the world.
I am also voluntering for any job someone thinks I can do.
Love to all.
Bob
- Sunday, January 21, 2001 at 12:00:16 (PST)
Author: bodikel@san.rr.comAloha from Kelly and Gerry
January 21, 2001
Hello Everyone!! It is time to give an update since
our last contribution to the family site at Christmas.
Since then, we have sold our home and we are buying a condo
in Waterford about 2 miles from here. It is 10 years old.
No steps!!!! It should work well for us but it will be half
the size of our home now. We hope to be moving sometime in
February. I wanted everyone to know that God blessed us
again with a prize of a trip to Honalulu, Hawaii from March
3to 11th. I won it on a radio contest in Detroit on station
WOMC. This has been a dream come true for us and we are
soooo excited. We will be staying at the Hyatt Regency
Resort on the Beach of Waikiki. We hope to be moved before
the trip. Once we have our new phone and address we will
forward it to everyone. Our boys are doing good. Jeff is
full time as a camp couselor and will hopefully be going to
college full time in the fall. He has been hired by
Waterford Schools as the head coach of wrestling for
Waterford Pierce Middle school too. He has a sweet
girlfriend who also works part time at the camp and we had
dinner with her and her folks at Mesquite Creek last
friday. Neat people!! Ben is not currently in a play and he
has a pretty full load this semester but he'll get through
it!! He and Melissa have taken a hiatus from each other but
have not broken up. Kelly's Mom is holding her own. Her bed
sores are healing up well and Kelly's Aunt Bobbie is
destined to become a saint for all her wonderful Love and
care for Mom. Well we're off to a family reunion meeting at
Lucca's. Hope you can all come to the reunion and PLEASE
don't forget the lottery that Sally has been running to
raise money for the reunion. Much Love to you all!!! Gerry
and Kelly
- Sunday, January 21, 2001 at 10:24:04 (PST)
Author: gerryandkelly@aol.comLetter #23 from PNG
Letter #23
January 9, 2001
Hello Everyone
Well we have finally settled into our new site. It certainly
has been and interesting 2 months, so this is bit of a long
letter. I plan to start writing my letters more regularly
now.
We were in Madang for two weeks in early November, which was
great. We hung out up with a bunch of CUSO (Canadian)
volunteers, went snorkeling, I played squash, and watched
the Presidential election saga (the Canadians had CNN).
One night we were invited to go for a run with the Hash
House Harriers (H3). This group is an anachronism left over
from the colonial days. Back in the days when there were
lots of Aussies around, they were getting fat from lack of
exercise, so they started a running club. However at the end
of the run they always ended up at the “hash house”. Thus
they became know as the Hash House Harriers. This group is
primarily made up of either, runners with a drinking
problem, or drinkers with a running problem (mostly
Australian men). First we all went for a run around town
and then back to a central meeting spot for a BBQ and
drinking session. First, the Captain put on his captains
jacket and lorded over a club meeting. In the meeting
anyone who had committed a trivial offense of any sort was
punished by requiring them to chug a whole beer at once.
And any one who had done good deed was rewarded giving them
a beer to chug all at once! As a result just about everyone
was punished or rewarded (at least it was a home brewed
beer), including Lynna and myself for the honor of being
guests. There is a special ritual that must be followed for
these rewards and punishments. There is a special mug with
which to chug the beer. The mug has a handle that is shaped
in the likeness of a flying fox bat. There is a hole in the
cup, which drains out of the anatomically much too large
penis of the bat. Therefore while chugging the beer one has
to be careful to keep a finger over the tip of the bat’s
penis while chugging the beer. However before one can chug
the beer the special beer chugging song must be sung first.
To ensure that one has fully drained the mug one must tip
the mug upside down over their head. It was good silly fun
and a great way to drink beer. The ritual reminded me of my
fraternity days, instead of a silly little ritual that was
taken seriously, this silly ritual was used to make fun of
themselves and also have some fun while doing it.
After two weeks in Madang we flew out to East New Britain
Province to go to our new site near the provincial town
called Kokopo. Peace Corps had arranged for us to stay at a
beachside guesthouse for a week while our new house was
fixed up. When the plane landed we found out that there had
just been a major earthquake an hour before. Two hours
after we landed while we were at the guesthouse a second
major earthquake hit. Lynna and I stood in the doorway of
the guesthouse. The quake was so strong that we had to hold
on to the doorframe to keep our balance. The house next us
had a solar water heater that fell off the roof and crashed
not ten feet from us. There was some confusion as to how
strong the quakes were. The numbers I have heard that both
were measured at 8.0 and one aftershock at 7.2. So this was
a pretty big geological event! The quake was caused by a
sub-duction fault deep in the crust. It had nothing to do
with the volcano nor did it affect the volcano.
Because of a tsunami warning (the earthquake was under the
sea), Peace Corps had us move to another volunteer’s house,
who lives away from the coast. We stayed there for a week.
A small wave (5ft) did hit the wharf and flooded a few
warehouses. Surprisingly the quakes did not cause massive
damage. Most of the damage was to water tanks that either
burst or fell off their blocks and to some roads that were
covered by landslides.
Even now a month and a half after the big quakes we feel
aftershocks everyday. Most are mild tremors, but every now
and then a good jolt will startle us. Such as the one that
happened while Lynna was on a ladder! These jolts can be
more than 6.0 in strength.
And of course there is the volcano… the one that buried
Rabaul, the former provincial capital. Rabaul was not the
largest city in PNG, but it was most vibrant city in PNG.
In 1994 two volcanoes erupted near Rabaul spewing mostly
heavy ash. One of them buried most of the town under
several feet of ash. The town was evacuated and over the
next several months ash fall slowly buried the town. The
capital was moved to another town, Kokopo, on the other side
of the bay, which is safe from the volcanoes. Since the
main eruption the volcano will periodically erupt and belch
out ash. About six months ago it started up again and
lasted for about 5 months. So when we arrived here two
months ago, we were greeted by, a major earthquake, an
erupting volcano, and a minor tsunami! In the past few
weeks the volcano has calmed down considerably. While it
looks awesome when it is erupting, it is nice when it is not
because sometimes the wind blows the ashes across the bay
where we live and there will be a fine layer of dust all
over everything, our skin, clothes, inside the house,
everywhere!
And what about our new house? Well when we first moved here
it was not ready for us to move into yet. PHF had to put
locks on the doors and a wooden lattice over the windows in
order to meet PC's minimum-security requirements before we
could move in. After we moved in they continued to work on
the house. We told them that if we were going to live there
for a year and half we would want it screened in, not only
for privacy but also because of the flies and mosquitoes.
So they screened in all the windows and verandas. They have
yet to replace the sak-sak (sago palm leaf) roof, although
they have started on sewing up the sak-sak leaves. For the
time being, the roof is covered by a huge tarp.
Despite the work it needs, it is really a beautiful house.
It is up on 2ft. high posts, with wooden floors, an peaked
roof ceiling that goes up 25ft and is very open, two
bedrooms, bathroom with shower, toilet, sink. It does have
electricity, propane stove, and a refrigerator. The front
of the house is like a big open porch where the living room
and kitchen is. Four posts at the entrance of the house
have traditional carvings on them. The house is surrounded
by frangipani trees which are in continuous bloom giving off
a very nice sweet smell. Once the roof is replaced it will
be just beautiful.
What exactly are we doing? Good question, I am not exactly
sure! Well Lynna is working with the Women's Desk and I am
working with the Forestry Desk. The Women's Desk goes out
to the various project sites and helps women set up sewing
projects and baking projects, health awareness, basic
bookkeeping, etc… Of the two women who work at the desk,
one just had a baby, and the other is 9 months pregnant, so
needless to say, not too much will be happening there for
awhile. As for myself, I am working with the forestry desk
areas Right now I doing a lot of reading trying to learn
as much about eco-forestry in PNG as I can. Eventually we
should be going on patrols to visit existing projects to
make sure the project is going well, help solve problems,
and teach them more about forest management. Unfortunately
not much is happening in the office in general.
Our General Manager and Head Forester just resigned last
week. So it looks like I will have to play a greater part
in the forestry desk. As a volunteer my job is not to
manage or make decisions but to train and advise. However,
seeing as that my counter parts have little management and
decision making skills it will be up to me to “guide” them.
How is it that myself as a volunteer with very little
experience can step in and help people that have much more
experience to make decisions and manage a program? I hate
to say this but I think that Papua New Guineans still
influenced by the colonial days when the “white masta” made
all the decisions and told the nationals what to do. This
has handicapped the nationals in to thinking that they
should defer to the white man and in the process of always
deferring to the white man the nationals have not developed
thier own management and problem solving skills. It doesn’t
help that PHF was founded and run for five years by a white
man with an autocratic leadership style. Hopefully I can
undo some of the damage and teach these guys simple
management and problem solving skills and they will be all
set because they already have all technical skills they need
really.
The office is located on the plantation of the founder of
PHF. The plantation is located about 10km inland from
Kokopo. Our house is next to the plantation owners house
who. Right now he is ill and has moved to Australia.
The plantation grows copra (coconut) and cocoa, the cocoa
trees are grown underneath the coconut trees. There are also
several stands of balsa wood trees on the plantation.
Yes it is hot here, but at least the office is
air-conditioned. The trees from the plantation provide a
lot of shade so it is not too bad. At night it does cool
off and we are able to sleep comfortably.
Alright I have written plenty for now. I will write again
soon.
Coconuts, & Cocoa
Love
Andy and Lynna
- Wednesday, January 10, 2001 at 17:31:25 (PST)
Author: mattstevenson.geo@yahoo.comHappy New Year To All and Best Wishes for good health and prosperity!
Happy New Year 2001!
Things are going good in my neck of the woods (Paris,
France). Hope everyone had happy and pleasant Holidays!
Myself, I must admit that I missed being with friends and
family during this time. ;-( But I suppose to a certain
extent that's part of the price I've had to pay to live here.
It looks like soon I will have visits from family members
here. Cousin Jeff Stevenson (Gerry and Kelly's) is putting
together a plan to go to England and is thinking about coming
down for a visit here in Paris while here. Sally talked about
coming here as well. Again if anyone needs a destination or a
place to stay while traveling in Europe please don't hesitate
to give me a call or send me e-mail.
If you are new to the web site and want to be added to the
notification list please send mail to my address at the
bottom of this letter.
(I added you Kelly)
Ok, love to all!
-Scott
- Thursday, January 04, 2001 at 09:55:32 (PST)
Author: hotscott@sonic.netHELP !!!!
Hello Everyone,
Hope all of you had a fun and safe holiday season. By the
sounds of things, your weather hasn't been the best, back
in Michigan. I can't complain of course. I just hope it is
warming up for you. Here is my dilema, Dad told me that
everytime a new letter appears on the family web site, I
should receive notification on my e-mail automatically. I
should not have to pull up the family web site everday. If
this is not the case, is there any type of shortcut to
getting to you guys without having to type in that long
address? If someone has the time to call me, or e-mail me
back I would be so very happy. (858)638-7949 or e-mail
kmccann@san.rr.com. Love you all. Look forward to someone
notifying me back kelly
- Wednesday, January 03, 2001 at 19:20:07 (PST)
Author: kmccann@san.rr.comA Wish for Happy Holidays to All with Love from Paris!
Hopefully everyone is doing well wherever you might be!
Wow, time definitely flys faster as you get older eh?
This will be my second holiday season here in Paris. Last
year I had the good fortune of spending Christmas and New
Year's with a good friend. It was then that I decided to come
and live here. I suppose those who've been reading this
letter since then will remember my posts....and of course
...they're easy enough to go back and read.
What a wonderful Thanksgiving I shared with some of the
family in Los Angeles at Zip and Liz's house. It felt good to
be amongst family on Thanksgiving to see my parents and to
see my niece Sophie (Zip and Liz's daughter). She sure is
growing up big and strong! Then afterward Danny and Jill's
wedding in Maryland. That was such a pleasure to attend. I
enjoyed talking with the Coppock's and catching up with other
family members who were lucky enough to make it to their
wedding. To Danny and Jill, may you have long and healthy
lives together! I thought the words you two said about your
parents were really touching....
I'm thankful to live in such a family filled with love and
tenderness.
I'm looking forward to this new year. There will be many
things going on this year particularly with a new
administration in the white house. I hope Bush becomes adept
in world politics!
Welcome Diane Stevenson and Kathleen Boudreau to the family
network/circle letter! It's always a great pleasure to see
new faces posting letters for us all. To have updates about
family members and their lives is really a treat for me now
that I'm living here.
Another wish for the whole family: may everyone be healthy
and prosperous in this new year!
I haven't decided what to do for New Year's eve, but I'm
imagining going to see fireworks somewhere near the Eiffel
Tower....this time I'll take my video camera.
Just think we're only about 6 months away from the family
reunion....doesn't that seem like such a small amount of
time? I'm really looking forward to the family reunion and
can't wait to see everyone together like we did in 1990.
Ok, with all my love,
-Scott Stevenson
- Sunday, December 24, 2000 at 18:35:11 (PST)
Author: hotscott@sonic.netMerry Christmas from Gerry and Kelly
Happy Holidays Everyone:
What a wonderful time of year to look back at how
wonderful our life was having Mom and Dad to guide us as to
the truth of Christmas and the importance of giving to
other's in need rather than focusing on our own wants. I do
miss Mom and Dad so much but am so happy they are together
once again enjoying eternal happiness together. Remember
the carols around the piano, the poor man's cakes, the Tall
lighted red candles over the manger set. Going to Midnight
Mass and watching all the people coming in. All the
beautiful Musical shows Dad put on at the schools and
churches. How Blessed we were and will forever be in
sharing our heritage. Kelly and I have not sold our home
yet but we have had quite a bit of lookers over the last
couple of weeks which is surprising with the holidays here
and everything. We are all well and we have the boys home
for Christmas. We are looking so forward to celebrating the
birth of Our Savior in the year 2000. For our beautiful
family member's that for whatever reason don't go to church
regularly, please go on Christmas(Mom and Dad or Grandma
and Grandpa would be soooo happy!!) and Thank God for the
Blessings the Stevenson's have. They are abundant!! I So
Love you all and pray for 2001 to be the best year we could
all wish for as we prepare for our exciting upcoming
Stevenson Reunion 2001. A Family Odyssey!! Love Gerry
- Tuesday, December 19, 2000 at 13:24:03 (PST)
Author: gerryandkelly@aol.comA study of the "TOOTH FAIRY"
Hello everybody,
Below is a very funny article on the “Tooth Fairy” sent to Suzanne
and I by Scott. I have changed it a little to make it Americanized.
(Adrian Barnett is English)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A brief exercise in critical thinking by Adrian Barnett 1997
“THE TOOTH FAIRY”
Here, we shall study an apparently supernatural phenomenon
and attempt to draw conclusions about it's validity. It is assumed that
the reader is intelligent, rational and open-minded enough to draw
his/her own conclusions from this discussion.
Premise
The Tooth Fairy is a common childhood myth. It is usually defined like this:
When a tooth falls out, leave it under your pillow when you go to
sleep. During the night, the Tooth Fairy will visit your room, take the tooth
and leave a small amount of hard cash.
Going on the empirical evidence, this appears to be a good hypothesis.
As a child, when my teeth fell out I would tell my parents, and they would
tell me to put the tooth under my pillow. In the morning, the Tooth Fairy
had indeed been there, and I was a quarter (25 cents) better off.
Investigation
It never occurred to me to do a few controlled experiments. Such
experiments could be:
Tell your parents a tooth has fallen out, but do not put it under the pillow.
Tell them a tooth has fallen out, when in fact it has not.
When a tooth falls out, put it under the pillow, but do not tell your parents.
When a tooth falls out, do not tell your parents, and put the tooth in a
different location instead.
Put something other than a tooth under the pillow.
Stay awake all night to see what transpires.
All these experiments would provide a wide range of empirical evidence
that may then be used to postulate a theory. It should be noted, however, that
the last one (stay awake and see what happens) should be tried first. This will
invariably (but perhaps not always) show that it is in fact your parents, and
not a supernatural entity, that removes the tooth and leaves money in it's place.
Another procedure is to attempt to deduce the properties of the Tooth Fairy,
should it actually exist (after all, you may not be able to stay awake all night
to catch your parents at it).
Deductions
So, what can we deduce about the Tooth Fairy, from its known characteristics.
It is not affiliated with any known religion, in the way that Santa Claus
and the Easter Bunny are associated with Christianity (although their origins
seem to predate Christianity). Therefore, it is presumably not be restricted to
visiting Christian children. This gives it a much greater range than Santa Claus.
It does not need to visit all children in one night, once per year
(as Santa Claus does). It may eventually visit all children, but it takes place at
irregular, infrequent intervals.
It is possible to predict the number of visits per child by the average number
of teeth per child.
The amount of money left per tooth varies according to the child's age.
This is reasonable, as younger children are less interested in money than
older children.
The amount of money left per tooth also varies according to the level
of income of the parents. This suggests that it either unfairly favors wealthy
families, or it does not wish to encourage poverty stricken parents to use their
children's teeth as an alternate, tax-free source of income.
It is able to detect the loss of a tooth. There are several possible explanations
for this. The parents contact the Tooth Fairy when they hear of the loss. The Tooth
Fairy actually does visit each child every night, just in case. Some form of
radiation or exotic particle is emitted on the loss of a tooth. We shall call these
"Toothions". The Tooth Fairy is able to detect this radiation (or particle stream).
To investigate this properly would require placing a child in a large particle
detector and removing it's teeth, measuring any emitted radiation/particles. Nuclear
Physics research centers, such as CERN should be contacted about this sort of
experiment (also, the parents should be notified).
It has almost unlimited funds. Individually, each child's "reward" is quite
small, but the overall cost per year must be enormous. It is able to carry with it
vast quantities of coins (of different currency) and teeth. (it has been proposed
by Pratchett et al that if the Tooth Fairy does not have the correct change, it
may extract the appropriate amount of teeth to ensure a fair trade).
It is acutely aware of all current monetary exchange rates.
It can travel at relativistic speeds (i.e. nearing the speed of light).
It has the ability to enter and leave locked houses at will, without being
detected by burglar alarms, security systems, dogs etc.
Some of the above items can be explained if there is an army of Tooth
Fairies,and not just one.
Questions raised
Other questions that are raised are: What, exactly, does it do with all those
teeth? Possibilities are:
Building materials.
Jewelry.
Mineral extraction.
Sinister medical experiments, possibly in collusion with the CIA.
Sold on to third parties.
Possibly the chinese traditional medicine market (investigations should
be done into the aphrodisiac/healing properties of ground child-tooth). Also,
assuming that you do indeed stay awake all night, and actually do see the
Tooth Fairy, it becomes necessary to address these issues:
Could it have been a dream or an hallucination brought on by lack of
sleep, and the expectation of seeing such an entity?
Is there third-party evidence to support the visitation theory?
Did you install video recording apparatus?
Do you have a history of mental illness?
Are you taking strong medicinal/recreational drugs?
Is there physical evidence remaining, such as fairy dust, ectoplasm,
or fragments of wing scale?
Have you ruled out the possibility of fraud/hoaxing by third parties?
Summing up
Having studied the above evidence and arguments for and against
the existence of the Tooth Fairy, the critical thinker should now be in a
position to apply Occam's Razor and select the simpler explanation.
Creation Scientists should note that the simpler (and, in this case,
correct) explanation is:
"It's the parents doing it." It's not really a fairy.
- Saturday, December 16, 2000 at 10:45:47 (PST)
Author: sunshine@sonic.netDittos to Mike!!
Happy Birthday Mike and many many more!!!
We love ya! Uncle John, Aunt Mary, Cole and Sarah
- Thursday, December 14, 2000 at 18:51:34 (PST)
Author: jamg1971@aol.comfrom:anna stevenson to:little nancy lyons
hey everyone i dont know about you guys but my family and i
have`nt got the list of the christmas list exchange so we
don`t know who we have thats about it love ya all
love always anna and the
famiy.
- Thursday, December 14, 2000 at 13:56:30 (PST)
Author: terrys@qix.netHAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE
Here is a simple poem for your Birthday. Hopes its a good one!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR MICHAEL
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
(and many more)
Loveyaa...
Uncle James [:-))>
- Thursday, December 14, 2000 at 08:03:08 (PST)
Author: sunshine@sonic.netChristmastime
"I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all
the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been
born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign
to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying
in a manger." - Luke 2:11,12 (NIV)
It's that time of year again. December.
A time of year when some of us turn our
thoughts toward the true meaning of
Christmas. Which, simply stated, is this:
"For God so loved the world that He gave
His one and only Son, that whoever be-
lieves in Him shall not perish but have
eternal life."
- John 3:16 (NIV)
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
Love,
Lisa
- Tuesday, December 12, 2000 at 11:42:28 (PST)
Author: Fla23LisaK@aol.comDIANE INSPIRES LEENIE!!
Hello everyone and hope you're having a great start to the
holiday season. I figured if Aunt Diane has an e-mail
address, I better join the party. Lou and I were bummed
that we didn't make the wedding in Maryland. We will not
miss one moment of the reunion next summer. I am starting
a new company and had to work the weekend of thanksgiving.
What new company you ask? I have been purchasing golf
apparel for Las Vegas Golf Company for a few years and have
now gone independant (Harbortown Enterprises). I currently
have three stores and/or golf clubs that I work for as an
independant consultant, very exciting!!
I love you all and am so blessed to have such a great
family-in-law.
Merry Christmas,
Leenie (Kathleen Boudreau for those of you that don't know)
P.S. remember to include me on any interesting e-mails
(leeniebou@aol)
- Monday, December 11, 2000 at 09:03:14 (PST)
Author: LEENIEBOU@AOL.COMYEAH DIANE! WELCOME
Welcome to the fascinating world on the internet! It is so great when a new member of the family adds to
the Circle Letter. It makes us all feel so connected to each other and is the only way we can have some idea of
what is going on in this great big clan.
We missed you at the wedding. Everyone had a great time and we had good weather. The young boys
and girls in the family are growing up so fast and they all are good looking.
Scott came from Paris to Zip and Liz's in L.A. for Thanksgiving and then on to the wedding and then
home to Paris. Star came for Thanksgiving from Davis so it was nice being with part of our family and have a
delicious dinner with Zip and Liz, her brother Carl and several of their friends.
While we were there Sheryl Crow had Zip's company do a pair of vintage Levis with studs and jewels
which she wore to give an award on The Billboard Show in Las Vegas. Next one of the U2 band members is
having a vintage jacket studded in copper and aged silver studs to wear on the cover of Rolling Stone soon.
Many of the publicity photos for the movie Charlie's Angels shows them wearing his studded pants and in the
movie Drew Barrymore has on one of jeweled jackets while she is driving a convertible with the other two
stars. You only see it very briefly if you know where to look.
Liz has started an antique resale business with a booth in a wonderful antique store in Century City. She
loves antiques so this is a perfect fit for her.
Their girl Sophie is talking up a storm in Japanese and English and busy every minute. She really took to
Grandpa but she mostly told me No! No! No! Liz said she did the same thing to her Mother when she visted
for
a month from Japan earlier this year. Liz said her mother was so glad to hear she wasn't the only one.
More later, Love Suzanne
- Sunday, December 10, 2000 at 16:04:41 (PST)
Author: sunhshine@sonic.netI am now an Internet Woman
Well guess what?
I have finally decided it was time for me to become an
internet girl. I know it will take me a little bit of time
but I will learn fast and try to keep up with all of you
other wiz kids.
So please send me your thoughts and salutations and I will
follow up.
Love to all Diane (aunt Diane), sister in law Diane, Mom
and wife.
- Friday, December 08, 2000 at 13:30:41 (PST)
Author: gamma@san.rr.comNovember Winners
Dec 3rd 2000
Hi everyone !!
Just a real quick note to tell everyone what a great job
we did this month on the lotto!! Funds were up by
$100.00 !!
This is great considering the holidays are upon us. Good
work !! Let's keep it up.
1st place is Bill and Sharon winning $126.00 and in
second is brother Dan @ $100.00. (Please let me know what
you want me to do with your winnings). Thanks for being so
faithful each month. Can't wait to see everyone for this
reunion...the wedding was just a great taste of what it'll
be like. Not to mention we now have another family
member... Jill Stevenson. What a sweetheart too.
Happy Holidays to everyone. December's letter will be on
it's way soon. God bless you all.
With Joy, Sally
- Monday, December 04, 2000 at 04:19:52 (PST)
Author: sallylucca@aol.comSanta's Secret
Hello Everyone,
I thought you all might enjoy this. Hope all is well! I
will write soon again. Love Kelly
On Christmas Eve, a young boy with light in his eyes looked
deep into Santa's, to Santa's surprise, and said as he
nestled on Santa's broad knee, I want your secret. Tell it
to me. He leaned up and whispered in Santa's good ear, how
do you do it, year after year? I want to know how, as you
travel about, giving gifts here and there, you never run
out. How is it, dear Santa, that in your pack of toys, you
have plenty for all of the girls and boys?
Stays so full, never empties, as you make your way, from
rooftop to rooftop, to homes large and small, from nation
to nation, reaching them all? And Santa smiled kindly and
said to the boy, don't ask me hard questions. Don't you
want a toy?
But the child shook his head, and Santa could see, that he
needed the answer. Now listen to me, he told the small boy
with the light in his eyes, my secret will make you sadder,
and wise. The truth is that my sack is magic. Inside it
holds millions of toys for my Christmas Eve ride. But
although I do visit each girl and boy, I don't always leave
them a gaily wrapped toy. Some homes are hungry, some
homes are sad, some homes are desperate, some homes are
bad, some homes are broken, and children there grieve.
Those homes I visit, but what should I leave?
My sleigh is filled with the happiest stuff, but for homes
where despair lives, toys aren't enough. So I tiptoe in,
kiss each girl and boy, and I pray with them that they'll
be given the joy, of the spirit of Christmas, the spirit
that lives, in the heart of the dear child who gets not,
but gives. If only God hears me and answers my prayer,
when I visit next year, what I will find ther are homes
filled with peace, and with giving, and love and boys and
girls gifted with light from above. It's a very hard task,
my smart little brother, to give toys to some, and to give
prayers to others. But the prayers are the best gifts
indeed, for God has a way of meeting each need. That's
part of the answer, the rest, my dear youth, is that my
sack is magic. And that is the truth.
In my sack I carry on Christmas Eve day, more love than a
Santa could ever give away. The sack never empties of love,
or of joys, cause inside it are prayers, and hopes. Not
just toys. The more that I give, the fuller it seems,
because giving is my way of fulfilling dreams. And do you
know something? You've got a sack, too. It's as magic as
mine, and it's inside of you. It never gets empty, it's
full from the start. It's the center of lights, and of
love, it's your heart. And if on this Christmas you want
to help me, Don't be concerned with the gifts 'neath your
tree. Open that sack called your heart and share, your
joy, your friendship, your wealth, your care. The light in
the small boy's eyes was glowing. Thanks for the secret,
I've got to be going. Wait, little boy, said Santa, don't
go. Will you share? Will you help? Will you use what you
know? And just for a moment the small boy stood still,
touched his heart with his small hand and whispered, I will.
- Sunday, December 03, 2000 at 17:38:04 (PST)
Author: kmccann@san.rr.comHappy Thanksgiving From Maryland
Happy Thanksgiving to All, Happy Birthday to Star!
Scott here writing to you all from Los Angeles where Zip has
invited the family for Thanksgiving. It's a pleasure to be
here for this special time of year (rather than
in Paris...alone). Also, Zip and Liz are such good hosts!
Star turns 28 today so, we can wish him a happy birthday!
Now there was something for mom and dad to be thankful for,
28 years ago today when Star was born.
I hope all of the family is doing well this Thanksgiving
(wherever you might be).
Ahhhh!! I can't for Danny and Jill's wedding, that's going
to be great to see them get married and to spend time with
other family members out there in Maryland.
Ok, folks love you bunches and bunches!
Love,
-Scott
- Thursday, November 23, 2000 at 07:20:05 (PST)
Author: hotscott@sonic.netLetter # 22 from PNG
Hello Folks,
We are at the Pacific Heritage Foundation (PHF) offices on
the eastern end of New Britain Island.
My new assignment will be working in eco-forestry. This
will involve going out and working with different landowner
groups to help them manage their forests. Lynna will be
working with community and women's development. One of her
projects will be to work on a children's book about the
forest and the environment.
PHF is located on a coconut plantation about 15 kilometers
inland. We have a house, but it needs some work before we
can move in. For the time being, we are staying with
another volunteer named Michael Jackson (HONEST)!
Our first few days here have been quite exciting. While we
were on the plane coming over here, Rabual was hit by a 7.2
earthquake. Two