Buenos Dias and Happy Thanksgiving

It's 4 a.m. and there's a lot of activity in the Bogota, Columbia airport. While people with overnight layovers like us are waking up from their uncomfortable but welcome rest on the benches, early travelers are heading to the gates for their flights. The first leg of our trip to Cuenca included a stop at the Newark N.Y. airport - where Chan was nearly brought down to his undies by security. After a short wait in the very crowded airport, we had a 5 hour trip to Bogota. I'll admit, I thought the airport would be the pits, and unsafe. I was totally wrong. Top drawer.

We had a couple beers and pizza, and then tried to call it a night. Our flight is in a couple hours .... gotta go find some Columbian coffee.

Women's gab-away 2011

 

 

 

My heart is filled with wonderful words of wisdom from the women who have walked with me along my life's journey.
Our annual women's gabaway was held this year at the Minnesota Humanities Center, we liked it so well that we want to return next year.
My take-away motto until the next time we meet --- "I will not worry about what will not happen."
The book I will read - Cutting for Stone
The salad I will make - Chop Salad from the Black Sheep where we had lunch.
I will use my breadmaker to get the dough going and then remove it to rise and then bake.
Things I would like to know from my husband: "All the things you thint I should know (or assume that I know) and thaqt I don't."
I will send out reminders to these friend asking them about their progress on their wills.

 

 

Just a sampling of the great food we enjoyed.

Our Trip to Connecticut.

Chan and I love road trips. This one was to Connecticut by way of Gettysburg, Lancaster, Manhatten. Food highlights: Chipped beef and toast, grits, pastrami in Manhatten, Salmon at Jai and Beth's wedding.

Schutz Family Reunion July 21-23, 2011

Family Reunion July 2011

Family Reunion July 2011

Special session: The epilogue

We kicked butt last night.
I got home just in time to meet Chan at 4:45 a.m. as he was leaving for his morning workout.
Yesterday morning, when a special session was called for the afternoon, we had two key staff members on vacation. They came to work!
When session began, we went into action, over the next 12 hours, our writing staff cranked out 12 stories about the 12 major bills passed by the Legislature and sent to the governor. Here's the link if you want a nonpartisan, no-frills read http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/sdaily.asp. Our TV staff provided minute-to-minute coverage of the floor action. We tweeted, we updated our facebook page, we uploaded photos to Twitpic. I didn't know this old girl still had it in her.
Now that it's over, what did I think of this special session? I'll stick to the process. It is shameful that the public had little or no time to view the bills that made up this $34 billion budget. I covered the bonding committee this past session, and there was NO bonding bill... but there was last night! So no input really. One of our writers covered pensions, and there was no pension bill this past session, but there was last night!
These 12 bills were massive and, for instance, people had little less than 15 minutes to view the education bill before it was voted on!
When you consider your candidates during the next election cycle. PLEASE ask them about the process of law making. This is extremely important. If your candidate doesn't think that compromise trumps personal or party principle... then I'd look elsewhere. If any candidate says what happened here "in the dark of night" is sometimes necessary, then look elsewhere.
There was a lot that went wrong in the process, but if we, the electorate don't give a rip, then I guess we get what we deserve - a government by the few and for the few!
Thanks, it's a wrap!
Chan and I are going to Grand Marais for a long weekend with the Schutz kids and grandkids, to visit the favorite aunt and hubby and cousin.
Here's to quilt shops, wine, beer, good food and LAKE SUPERIOR.