not a cousing, but an "Ant"

Hello nieces and nephews...so far I am the only one of the "older" generation to add to the blog. We met Ken and Ione for lunch today and she told me she is not a cousin so hasn't added anything! So am I infringing on a select group? Love reading all the info, so hope it is o.k.
Pete is getting everything together to go to the Houston area to help with clean up after the hurricanes. There are four people from our church going leaving after the second service tomorrow. They had hoped to get more but with all the "stuff" on the list people are asked to bring, it will be a full car as it is. It will be a two day trip down, work for three days and drive back another two days. I would like to go along, but I'm afraid my back wouldn't hold up too well..just hope his doesn't give out on him.
We have our fall garden clean up done. I divided my iris and took the extras to church to plant there. In the process of digging, we unearthed big bunches of tulip bulbs that were grown together and needed dividing. We did that and replanted what there was room for and brought the rest home. I planted those today...51 of them! Next spring will be beautiful in they are productive.
David your story of digging the pit for the outhouse reminds me of one of Dan's tales from the Army. While he was in Korea I believe it was, the unit was marched out into the desert to fill sandbags, but once they got out there, no one had bags! So they dug trenches instead. Dan didn't think too much of the intelligence in the military. I may have screwed up that story...if so, Dan can correct it.
all for now
Aunt Polly

Greetings From Lexington Ky.

Hi everyone!this is Becky Griebel daughter to Dorothy(#6 0f 11).Writing this from Lexington Ky.Horse capital of the world.Lived here for 25 years or so My husband is Francis and he works for Link-Belt Construction Equipment Co.He Designs Cranes.Iam a homemaker. And manage the book work on the 4plex Apts. own. WE have one Daughter Megan,who we adopted from China.In 1998.She is 12 years old now and is in 7th grade . What a wonderful thing it was to go to China to get her.Once and a life time trip.Altho we hope to go back some day so she can see Nanning China again where she is from. My Brothers are Steve Lindner he lives in Ankeny Iowa.Duane, he lives in SAn Ramon CA. And Curt,he lives in Eagle River AK. AND MY DAD AND Audrey live in Fort Dodge IA. do not know to much else here . THANKS DAN FOR STARTING THIS Blog I have really enjoyed reading it and seeing what all the Cousins are doing these days .Take Care Everyone Becky

Back from the Big Easy

I just spent this past weekend at the national conference for Women Chefs and Restauranteurs, which was a blast. New Orleans is still a far cry from the city as I found it seven years ago, but it does seem to be coming along. The people are just different there, they seem to be more vibrant and often rather eccentric. I noticed even that the men who made cat calls were somewhat different, not yelling, but rather greeting me with a kind word or two.

The food there was absolutely wonderful, but what else would you expect for a group of such talented individuals? We dined out Saturday night, and then were fed in the hotel by many top-notch chefs for the remainder of the conference. I must mention also that the wine flowed freely, and not the cheap stuff either. Women do these things right.

Many of the attendees were famous faces like Elizabeth Faulkner, Barbara Lynch, Leah Chase and Gale Gand, but at meals and sessions they were completely casual and extremely personable. I've never met so many people in just over two days, and now just have to make notes and remember them all.

Hi all,

Enjoyed reading all of the posts to date - what a great idea.

I'm Rich (still Richard to my Mom) Licht, 2nd son of Bob and Esther. I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota with wife Lori and our 11-year-old son Adam. Our first-born, Kristen, is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in marketing. Our son John is a freshman at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. We think he's majoring in baseball and fun, at least for the first year anyway.

Lori and I are both accountants. We met when we both worked for Arthur Andersen & Co. We both left AA&Co. to work in industry, long before that venerable firm's sad demise. I am now a corporate reporting accountant for Graco (not the baby equipment company), which manufactures paint sprayers, industrial pumps and lubrication equipment. Lori has worked for the last 25 years for Jacobs Management Co, a holding company for the business interests of a wealthy entrepreneur by the name of Irwin Jacobs. Their holdings include Genmar, a boat manufacturer, and Watkins Products.

From John Licht

Hi All! This is John Licht, youngest son of Bob, brother to Ken, Rich and Karen.

From Karen...again...here are my kids...

From Karen in Des Moines

• Hi to all!
  
  This is from Karen Reding, daughter to Bob (#2 of 11), writing from Des Moines, Iowa.
  
  Thanks to whoever established this blog. My husband's family has a website on "Myfamily.com" which has been a wonderful way for us to stay in touch with his brothers & sisters (all 12 of them!). I just love the Internet and how it has opened doors to staying in touch with those who are far apart. My Mom was here at Christmas and commented how much we use our computer! She has given us strict instructions not to purhase a computer for her, however!
  
  A side note, please let me know where to send my brothers' e-mail addresses. I know they would be interested in joining in on the blog.
  
  I live in Urbandale and have 3 children. Jenna is 16, Nathan is 13 and Ben is 10. My husband, Tony, works as an IT Manager at The Principal Financial Group and for the past 2 years I have been doing some part-time bookkeeping for two small law firms. Tony and I met at The Principal in 1988 and were married in 1990. I continued to work there until 1997 when we had Jenna and Nathan at two different day cares and neither of them had openings for the baby on the way. I was home full time until about 4 years ago when I found some part time bookkeeping work.
  
  I have been thinking about what I can remember growing up being a Licht. Here are a few things that come to mind:

• The cookie jar at Grandma Licht's, mostly, perfectly round sugar cookies.
• The white propane tank on Grandma & Grandpa's farm, climbing on it.
• Playing in the corn cribs on Grandma & Grandpa's farm.
• Climbing a plum tree on G & G's farm and falling out of it. The grass underneath was so long and soft, it felt like falling on a pillow!
• Crossing the field at G & G's with cousins and going to the river to skip rocks.
• When Grandma stayed with us at Christmas when my Mom's Mom passed away and Mom was gone for the funeral in California. Grandma Licht curled my hair all wrong!
• Going to Chicago to visit the Heinitz's in their BIG house! Riding the "el" to downtown Chicago. What a thrill! Seeing the swimming pool where Jackie and Jan were life guards (I think!)...I thought it was really cool.
• Going to New Ulm to visit Gordon and Betty and family and for a German festival.
• Reunions in Dubuque with the aunts, uncles and some cousins.

My Mom is doing well. Osteoporosis has made her quite bent over and frail but she gets around amazingly well. She had an eye-lid lift last May in Des Moines and stayed with us for the week of the surgery. Spring is such a busy time of year for us, she was ready to go home after watching us run in circles around her! She has some good friends in Fort Dodge who check in on her regularly and pick her up for lunch or coffee now and then. She always goes to church on Saturday nights and every week, has supper with 2 friends after the church service.

Once again, this blog is wonderful. I'll look forward to new posts!

Sincerely,

Karen