Nolette News Flash
Dec 29, 2005 Thursday
Delfina Luengoes, mother of Adriana, arrived in Minneapolis this morning. She left Buenos Aires, Argentina yesterday afternoon. She took a 12 hour flight to Chicago and then flew from there to Minneapolis. She was here last May but Adriana only saw her for four days because Adriana spent most of her time in Rochester when Michael had a liver transplant. Delfina did a lot of babysitting. She had some problems at first because she only speaks Spanish and her grandchildren only speak English. Already she and Sebastian were playing games.
Douglas and Penny came back home. He did three deals and covered over 650 miles. One of the deals was only about 15 miles from the Red Lake Indian Reservation. They stayed last night at a Best Western in Bemidji. He said they saw a lot of lakes, all frozen of course. Penny and Abbey did well on the trip.
I had a root canal done today. I was at the orthodontist's for 3 hours and 45 minutes. That must be the record. I have never had one before and I was nervous. I am usually not nervous about going to the dentist. I was very tense in anticipation of those shots of novacaine but the orthodontist numbed the area before the novacaine shots and they were relatively painless. My fists had been just clenched. Then they left the room to give time for the novacaine to work. I waited and waited and waited! I got up and put my jacket on because it was cold in there and then sat back down and managed to fall asleep. Finally they came back, the orthodontist said there were emergencies. Everyone was getting all there teeth done at the end of the year. It took awhile to figure out which tooth was bad and now there's still only a 75% chance that it is right one. I hope it's the one, I don't want to do this again. Besides the discomfort, it's also the money, even with some insurance coverage, it costs plenty. The good part was I was no longer nervous by this time. After a seemingly long procedure, I paid a down payment of 200 dollars and got out of there.
After that two line email I sent Ronnie two days ago, he has been busy searching Nvu web editor forums. And even more than that, he has been really studying css style sheets. It's sounds like he has learned some things already, but of course there is lot's to learn. He has done some web pages professionally but relying mostly on HTML. I learned some css last summer and I hope I haven't forgotten it all.
Before the Christmas season is done completely I wanted to say a few things about it. I was annoyed at being greeted with "Happy Holidays" at all the stores. The bank where Donna works no longer even puts up a Christmas tree because it might offend someone. What do they think that holiday is that we're celebrating. Next year I'm going to make a concentrated effort to shop at stores that welcome you with Merry Christmas. I will take my business to those places or no place at all. Home
Dec 28, 2005 Wednesday
Douglas, Penny and Abbey went north today to Detroit Lakes, Blackduck and Bemidji. He has some business appointments. They are staying tonight in Bemidji. Andrea is staying at their home with Mama. I talked with both of them about an hour ago. I think they are doing a lot of reading.
Ronnie downloaded Nvu, an open source web page composer. I downloaded it yesterday. I had to do a lot of talking before he did it. I hope he likes it. He was using an old one from the 20th century. I tried Nvu a little yesterday and today but this is the first real thing I've done with it. but of course, this is pretty easy stuff. Home
Dec 25, 2005 Sunday
Merry Christmas. The day dawned cloudy and warm for this time of year, about 32 degrees this morning. Robert and Tracey Lundberg had Christmas dinner at their house. We were there from about 10 AM to 5 PM. Douglas, Penny and Mama stayed there overnight. All except Robert went to church last evening. Robert went this morning. Donna and I went to church yesterday afternoon. I took some photos of the manger scene, one of which is on the front page today. Ronnie and Jill Nolette and Terry Hein were there. The Jim Hartline family and Leah and boyfriend were also there as was the Michael Nolette family for a total of 23.
There was lots to eat. Tracey had turkey, ham, potatoes and plenty of other food. Everyone else brought casaroles and sweets. Before the meal Douglas read the first twenty verses of Luke 2 and then Robert gave a nice prayer. Robert and Tracey had fun games to play afterwards. The winners got prizes. Robert also had made a CD of Nolette Christmases from old photos. I need a copy of it. Home
Dec 23, 2005 Friday
Have you got your shopping done yet? Donna and I finished this afternoon. Ronnie got back yesterday from up north, where he visited Nathan and gave him his Christmas present. Today Ronnie is sick.
A couple of days ago, I got a long email from cousin Susan Reed giving her history for the past year. She sold her house which was high on the hill in Duluth. She bought a townhouse in another part of town. Again, I'm sitting here listening to Christmas music as I write this but this time I'm listening to a Christmas music channel on TV. HomeDec 21, 2005 Wednesday
Ronnie went up north today to visit Nathan and give him his Christmas present. He left about ten this morning and will stay until about six tomorrow evening. Nathan works four 12 hour days and then gets four days off. The worst part is that he splits the working days from two day shifts of 12 hours and then works 2 night shift of 12 hours. That is worse than staying on one shift. He and Heidi are spending Christmas with their mother.
I'm sitting here listening to a Perry Como Christmas album as I write this. I would rather listen to him sing Christmas songs then anyone else. It is partly a sentimental thing. I've been hearing them for as long as I can remember. We use to watch his Christmas shows back in the fifties. But I also like the clear prominent vocals that they use to record. The music was in the background and voice was dominant. There is a slight difference though. Now I'm listening to MP3s of the album from my computer which is hooked up to an amplifier. Home
Dec 20, 2005 Tuesday
Yesterday afternoon, our house was shaken by an explosion. At 1:40 pm Mama leaned her recliner back too far and partially knocked the floor lamp over. I said, "Don't move." and went over to pick it up before it fell completely on the floor. As soon as I picked the lamp up we heard a loud explosion that shook the house and rattled the windows on the east side. It scared Mama and I said, "What was that?' After a moment, I guessed it was a gas explosion. In this cold weather it sometimes happens with furnace problems. It was 10 below yesterday morning. I turned the TV on because I knew it would be on tv soon. About an hour later I found out that a building about two blocks from us had exploded. There were firemen there already and seven of them were taken to the hospital but none of the injuries were life threatening. At three o'clock when I went to pick up Donna, Broadway was blocked off and there was a news helicopter hovering overhead. By the time Donna and I got back there were three helicopters hovering over the accident. We watched the coverage on all the local channels last night. At nine o'clock I could still here helicopters hovering overhead.
Last Friday Douglas brought Mama over. Douglas and Penny went up North on Saturday to visit her brother for the weekend. I called him yesterday at ten AM and talked to Penny. They were in Talmoon and were on there way to Grand Rapids. I told Penny that I hadn't been in Talmoon in 50 years. Uncle Jack Reed's wife, Anna May is from Talmoon. Later Douglas told me that they had lunch with Dennis at the Forest Lake Restaurant. Right now it is 11am Tuesday and Douglas should be here any time to pick Mama up and bring her back to Roseville.
I got an email from Robert Lundberg and he said that he updated their photos on the internet. I just checked it out. He added a Christmas motif to the site. Take a look. Home
Dec 16, 2005 Friday
Yesterday, Thursday, was Donna's day off, so we went to new movie 'King Kong', which opened on Wednesday. I liked the move but it was too long. About two hours into the movie I had to get up and wander around the lobby. I looked at the popcorn and was tempted to buy some but I can almost eat out at an inexpensive restaurant for the price of the popcorn, so I resisted the temptation. Some of the lines in the movie were identical to the 1933 movie but the story was expanded and some of the characters were different. The movie lasted three hours and Donna didn't think it was long at all. I thought it had some of the best special effects I have seen and I'm not talking about Kong but in some places it looked like the real characters were actually intermingling with the animated graphics.
Douglas and Penny also went to movies yesterday. They went to see 'The Chronicles of Narnia'. They both really like it. It lasted 140 minutes ( I looked it up). Home
Dec 13, 2005 Tuesday
I updated Douglas's photos yesterday. Donna and I both went to the Dentist today. My appointment was for tomorrow but they crowded me in because of the coming snow. Ronnie had an appointment at the same Dentist in Plymouth this afternoon. It's long way for a dentist visit for us and even longer for him. Douglas and Penny are going to a Christmas program tonight that Megan is in. Home
Dec 12, 2005 Monday
Dennis Nolette and son Christian went back up north yesterday afternoon. They went shopping in store's Friday night and also again on Saturday. Donna and I went over to visit on Saturday evening. Michael and kids were there. The Robert Lundberg family also showed up. Ronnie and Jill also stopped by. We had "ordered out pizza" for supper. We all had a nice visit. Donna took a few photos of the brothers and Mama standing in the kitchen before we left . Home
Dec 9, 2005 Friday
Dennis Nolette came down to the twin cities today. He is staying Douglas's. His son Christian also came down with him. Christian did almost all of the driving on the trip down. Home
Dec 7, 2005 Wednesday
Peal Harbor Day. Donna has a uncle who was on the ship, USS Nevada, when it was bombed at Pearl Harbor. He was severely wounded and spent nearly a year in the hospital but he did survive and is now 83 years old.
Douglas asked our mother today, what she was doing when she heard about Pearl Harbor. She said, she and Alden were at his folks (Napoleon and Ida) . They heard the news on the radio. They were all very surprised and saddened by the news. She went on to talk about our father getting drafted the next year but failing the physical. He was disappointed but she was glad that he was not leaving. (Note: My father was very hard of hearing. By the time I first remember, in the late 1940's, he wore a hearing aid hanging from his neck, one battery pack in his front pocket and another battery pack in his rear pants pocket, later the hearing aids were smaller.Our mother and father were married less than a year on December 7, 1941.)
Everybody is getting their Christmas decorations up. On Monday Donna put up our table tree which we have been using for the last several years. All the needles fell off years ago. No, it is actually an artificial tree. Douglas and Michael bought real trees last Sunday. Douglas told me yesterday that his tree is up and decorated. Tracey's artificial tree has been up and decorated for the last week. Show Off.
Dennis Nolette said he is coming down to the cities this weekend. Home
Dec 2, 2005 Friday
Heidi bought a used car yesterday. Home
Dec 1, 2005 Thursday
A little more snow again today, we already have had more snow this year then sometime in January last year. And still four months more months of winter. I updated my digital photos late last night for those who want to take a look.
I went over to Douglas's today and picked up Mama. She will be staying with Donna and I for a few days. While there, I had home made chicken soup for lunch. Penny also made a scarf to match my cap that she made last week.
Today, Donna found an interesting item in the newspaper about peanut blossom cookies. I added a note to the recipe. Home
Nov 28, 2005, Monday
On Saturday, Ronnie and Jill took Heidi back home to Duluth. The same day, the Robert and Tracey Lundberg family returned from Missouri. Robert updated his photos yesterday. Everything is back to normal. It rained all last night. It was very warm today, getting up to 50 degrees F. There is now no trace of the snow from last Wednesday but tomorrow we will have one to three inches. Better than the foot of snow they have already had in some parts of Minnesota. Home
Nov 25, 2005, Friday
Well, Thanksgiving for 2005 has come and gone. Yesterday morning at 9AM, Donna and I drove to Roseville to the home of Douglas, Penny and Mama. We rode with them to Roberts, Wisconsin where we had dinner at Jim and Terri Hartline's. We got there early because Douglas thought he was going to deep fry a turkey he brought, but they already had a large one in a roaster.
On Wednesday, in preparation for what to bring on Thanksgiving I baked a boughten blueberry pie. Later I cut up a variety of vegetables and cooked them in the crock pot. I included rutabagas, sweet potatoes, carrots, celery, onions After supper I made a green bean casarole. Last week, Donna had made some peanut blossom cookies. Penny made home made buns earlier in the week and was planning on making pies on Wednesday but was too sick. Douglas made a pumpkin pie. They also had bought some cream cake for a school benefit from Andrea.
There was not as many people there as at some family gatherings. The Robert Lundberg family went to Missouri as the often do for Thanksgiving. Ronnie picked Heidi up in Duluth Wednesday night so they could all come to the dinner. But they did not attend because on the day Jill got sick with stomach flu. Michael and family did come. So there was fifteen there. Even Jim Hartline, who is a volunteer firefighter, left, because he got a call when he was sitting down to eat. He was gone a couple of hours. The fire was at a farmhouse that burned to the ground!
But for us, it was a nice time. Douglas and I both took some photos. I couldn't rely on Robert Lundberg, who is the most reliable at taking pictures, because he wasn't there. As usual, there was more than enough good tasting food. The one turkey wasn't even cooked. I wasn't sure how the cooked vegetables would go over but I was surprised by how many ate them. I wanted something that was good tasting but also good for you. I also wanted the vegetables cooked so that any possible biological contamination would be destroyed. Cooked vegetables are better for anyone with an impaired immunity system but it is good safe practice for everyone. Even Douglas' pumpkin pie tasted pretty good. So there was at least one miracle. We stayed quite late. Penny stayed there to do some babysitting this weekend. Donna and I didn't get home until after 6PM. Home
Nov 22, 2005, Tuesday
Ronnie went to his first therapy at the dizzy clinic today. He will be doing it twice a week. Home
Nov 21, 2005, Monday
Goggle finally did another index of 'Nolettes on the Net' on November 6. You may have missed it but there is a web site search at the bottom of the front page. You may search for anything on the site that was uploaded before November 6. I just tried it for the name 'Alden '. I got 46 results. Try it on your own name. Home
Nov 20, 2005, Sunday
For those who want to know, here's what 'Nolettes on the Net' looked liked on August 2, 2002 . The earliest version was a frames version, May 15, 2001. The side menu doesn't show. What a difference, from then to now. I think this version is the best so far. For an interesting look at web sites of the past, you may want to visit www.archive.org . Home
Nov 18, 2005, Friday
I received an email from Robert Lundberg today, informing me that the Lundberg photos are now updated. They were updated on November 6. I did notice it but I have not yet committed myself to editing the home page on my Linux box, but I think I will soon since I have a problem with the power supply on my Windows computer. I want to thank Robert for sending me the email because unless people email, phone, or whatever, I only put up what I know or what I feel like writing about. Home
Nov 17, 2005, Thursday
It started to snow on Tuesday evening and yesterday morning the ground and sidewalks were covered with snow. It wasn't a lot of snow but some places were very slippery. Yesterday morning, after I went to the grocery store and then walked back to the van, the wind was blowing so hard, I could hardly breathe. This morning it got down to 9 degrees Fahrenheit. but wasn't nearly as windy. Only another five months and it will be spring.
Because Donna has to work on Saturday, she had the day off today. We went over to Douglas' and saw Tracey and Megan. Douglas himself went to Superior, Wisconsin on business. Mama looked pretty good and Penny was better today. Tracey was coughing quite a bit from the asthma.
I wore my stocking cap today, it is about 25 years old. Penny originally made it for my father but it was a little too big for him so he traded it for the one I was wearing. I wear it every winter, usually over my baseball cap. There are no holes in it but it is slightly frayed around the edges. Penny measured the cap and is going to make another one using yarn she has around the house. She said she was glad to do something. She had a big start on it before we left. I will keep the old one no matter what.
After leaving, Donna and I did some shopping and then ate out. Ronnie went to the dizzy clinic today. He is going to start getting some therapy there. It may help somewhat. Lately, he has been having a lot of pain in his legs which is caused from the cerebellum ataxia. I talked to Douglas on the phone not long ago, he had gotten back home late this afternoon. He said they have more snow in the Duluth area than we do. I am doing this entry from the Suse Linux machine again. Home
Nov 16, 2005, Wednesday
If anyone asks Mama where she was born, she always answers, " I was born in Woodward, Iowa." Well last Friday, Woodward was hit by an unusual late fall, devastating tornado. At least 40 homes were destroyed. Some guy filmed part of it. She hadn't heard about it, when I called and told her about it. We talked about how ten years ago, Donna, Mama, and I visited there. I took a picture of her on the street. We also went to the town library and bought some 'out of circulation' books.
The main part of Woodward is located in Dallas County. All her brothers birthdays were registered at Boone, the county seat of Boone County. The family lived in Marcy township, which borders Dallas County. There was no record of her birth in Boone. I visited the county seat of Dallas County, but there was no record of her birth there either. She told me at that time that in the 1930's her father Frank couldn't find her birth record either. But later I found, at her home, a birth certificate of her 1917 birth that a Doctor made in 1938. I don't know if I have yet told her about it. It listed her birth as Woodward, Dallas County. I am not sure that is right, unless her mother was brought to town for the delivery. There is no one left to ask. I am sure my mother Jennie doesn't remember it.
Although nobody except me is probably interested. I am doing this entry from my other Linux computer which has Souse 10.0 installed. It is a very professional distribution but I hadn't figured out how to download and install the packages I wanted to use. But today, I quickly installed Mozilla composer and gftp, which I am now using to write and ftp to the web site. I miss the fact it doesn't have a spell checker. I will have to investigate farther. Home
Nov 15, 2005, Tuesday
I am having Michael do some hardware updating on my main computer so I haven't been adding anything lately, although there is plenty to update. Last Thursday I dropped my computer off at Douglas's. Michael said he would pick it up the next day. I also brought over four brands of peanut butter that day so we could have a peanut butter tasting. Ronnie also came over that day. I labeled the plates on the bottom and Douglas put the peanut butter on the plates and then I mixed the plates up so we wouldn't know which was which. There was no clear cut winner but there was clear cut loser. We all agreed immediately we didn't like the taste of the generic Cub brand as well. Both Douglas and Ronnie picked the Skippy as their favorite but I picked Peter Pan or the generic Roundy's as my favorite. It's too bad I didn't have Jiff to test. Later Douglas did a careful reading of the labels. The Cub brand had molasses in it.
Michael got sick the next day. Sebastian was just getting over pneumonia and then Natasha had gotten it. He called the Mayo clinic on Friday night because he had a fever of over 101 degrees F. They told him to come in the morning, because he couldn't take chances. Douglas brought him down there Saturday. By that time he had a fever of 104 degrees. By yesterday, Monday, after lots of antibiotics, he was allowed to leave. On the way back from Rochester, Douglas dropped him at the clinic where Natasha was getting another checkup. She had to have a shot in each leg because wasn't getting any better. Today she seems a little better. Michael was also better. I have never seen so many young people havepneumoniaa.
Penny also has been having health problems, she was diagnosed with Bronchitis. The doctor she saw today was my mother's. She told Penny, "Keep Jennie in the corner." Neither her nor Douglas has gotten sick. Last week, after both Trey and Megan had gotten pneumonia, Tracey went to the Doctor, who diagnosed her with pneumonia. Today she went back, but to another clinic. The doctor there, told her she definitely doesn't have pneumonia but has asthma instead. That's not good news either. At this time, Donna and I are OK.
Michael called me this evening and told me he was working on my computer and actually finished it while I was talking to him. I have done work in computers before but just looking in that one made me nervous. I will pick it up one these days. I have been doing this page today on my Mepis Linux computer. I now have Linux installed on two computers. This forces me to do some real work on them. I don't know anyone else who is trying Linux so I won't have anyone to call on the phone and ask questions. Just like 25 years ago and no one else I knew had a computer. There will be much more to write about tomorrow. Home
Nov 6, 2005, Sunday
Michael and Adriana had a birthday party for Natasha today. Most of the family and a few friends were there. Grandmother Penny didn't attend because she had a bad cold. Michael gave a very nice prayer before we sang "Happy Birthday" and ate our homemade cake and ice cream. Natasha got lots of presents, which she opened soon afterwards. She had lots of help from Megan opening the gifts. Home
Nov 1, 2005, Tuesday
Last Friday on Oct 28, Michael Nolette received good news. His Doctors at the Mayo Clinic said that his body was not trying to reject his liver. On the same day Ronnie and I both went to Douglas' home. Because Michael and Adriana were in Rochester, Sebastian and Natasha were there. When Mama told Natasha that Ronnie and I were coming over, she asked, "My David, my Ronnie?' She puts people in two groups. Megan is "My Megan."
I had a physical and flu shot today. Everything looks good so far. I wanted to get a cholesterol check and as many other blood checks that I could. Home
Oct 27, 2005, Thursday
Last night the Chicago White Sox won the World Series in four straight games. It was their first time in 88 years. By coincidence that is the age of my mother, Jennie.
Michael and Adriana are staying at a motel in Rochester tonight after his biopsy today. He was instructed to stay close to the clinic in case of problems. He well get his evaluation tomorrow afternoon. Sebastian and Natasha are staying with their grandparents, Douglas and Penny.
Ronnie had to go to Rochester today to pick up Jill's brother in law's dog from the pound. The brother in law is still at the clinic. They now have four dogs at their home. He hopes it is very temporary. Home
Oct 26, 2005, Wednesday
Adriana took Sebastian to the Dr. today because he has been sick for a few days and hasn't been getting better. He has pneumonia. His father Michael who hasn't been doing as well lately is going to the Mayo Clinic tomorrow to have a piece of his liver removed and analyzed. Last weekend, Ronnie and Jill took Jill's brother-in-law down to the Mayo Clinic. He is in a wheelchair and has had MS for a couple of years.
Donna and I received Andrea and Abbey's school pictures in the mail today. I think I will incorporate them in the picture of the day next month. Home
Oct 20, 2005, Thursday
Yesterday, Wednesday, Oct 19th, Douglas and Penny went to Grand parent's day at Trey Lundberg's school in Shakopee. They watched Trey in class and talked to the teacher, afterwards. Also yesterday at noon, just after Douglas and Penny left, Ronnie brought Mama back to her home at Douglas and Penny's in Roseville.
I talked to Nathan Nolette on the phone yesterday. He seems to be doing OK. He was on his four day off cycle from work, which is nice but it is hard to go back to that four day 12 hour day work cycle. I also talked to Heidi, on the phone, tonight for a short time when I was waiting for Donna. She is doing all right but doesn't like that extremely long bus ride to work. Home
Oct 18, 2005, Tuesday
The weather was perfect today. It was a sunny, breezy day with highs in the upper 70's. A great day for sitting outdoors, which Donna and I did, after she came home from work. Not typical Minneapolis weather for this time of October. The lawns are still a rich beautiful green. The trees are starting to turn although later than usual. It is also sad in a way, realizing how close we are to the onslaught of winter. Home
Oct 15, 2005, Saturday
Yesterday, Friday, October 14th, Michael was back at the Mayo Clinic for the third time this week. He has been having headaches all the time. They did an MRI of his head on Tuesday, but found nothing wrong. They couldn't find anything wrong anyplace. They are going to switch him to a different anti rejection medicine, hoping that cures the problem.
Trey returned back to school this week, after his bout with pneumonia.
Ronnie went to Grand Rapids, this past week, for a three day visit with Nathan.
Mama is spending the weekend at Ron and Jill's home and she went with them when they picked up Jill's mother, who had her 85th birthday when Ron and Jill were on their honeymoon. Donna and I went over there before five this afternoon and we all ate out at IHOP, before returning to their house for cake. We had a nice time. We borrowed a couple of DVD's before going home the long way through Anoka. Home
Oct 10, 2005, Monday
Yesterday, Sunday, October 9, Douglas and Penny went with Ronnie and Jill to the October fest dinner at St. Boniface Catholic Church. I hear they had a nice pork dinner but had to wait in a long line. I passed on it because I stick to chicken, turkey, fish or vegetarian, although Donna doesn't.
On Saturday, October 8, the Robert Lundberg family visited the Michael Nolette household. Michael told me on the phone yesterday that Robert took some photos of the two girls together. Maybe I will have some new photos to start off "Nolettes on the Net" soon.
Today, Douglas and Penny went with Michael and Adriana and the kids down to the Mayo clinic for Michael's bi-weekly appointment. Because he has been having a lot of headaches he will have to go back tomorrow, Tuesday the 11th and maybe even this coming Friday. Tomorrow, Douglas and Penny will take care of Sebastian and Natasha when Michael and Adriana drive down to Rochester. It is a 90 mile trip each way.
Today, Tracey took Trey to the Doctor because he was sick last week and still had a cough. He has pneumonia. He will have to stay home a few more days. Michael was in contact with Trey on Saturday. Michael has to be careful because he does have low immunity. Home
Oct 6, 2005, Thursday
On Tuesday, October 4, we had the most rainfall in 18 years. I got some water in my basement and so did Michael but everyone else was OK. It could have been worse. The month started out with unseasonably humid and warm July like weather. Today it feels like late November.
I put up a new link in the genealogy section ---- Pleasant Hill Cemetery. It is a cemetery you can feel at home in. A few years ago, I found a document at the genealogical society in Boone, Iowa that stated that 90% of the people in the cemetery are related to each other. And we are part of that 90%. I don't know all those names listed but I know we are related to Dugan, Bennett, Stumbo, Wiscup, Miller, Troutwine, Williams, Nolan and others. The key is our ancestor Elizabeth Bennett Stumbo Wiscup and how everyone is related to her. Home
Oct 3, 2005, Monday
Donna and I saw the Hitchcock like suspense movie Flightplan, today. It's kind of a combination of "The Lady Vanishes" and "The Thirty-Nine Steps." It was the best movie I have seen in the theaters in a long time. Home
Oct 2, 2005, Sunday
Donna has a four day weekend, from Friday to Monday. On Friday we went to the Minnesota Historical Society Library in St. Paul. I hadn't been there in a few years and I was pleasantly surprised by the changes. I wanted to look at the 1930 census but didn't look forward to tediously examining the census on the spools of microfilm. Now, the library pays for the right to examine online, the census from all the years plus other records. It was so fast this way. Find a record. print it to their copy office and go later to pick up copies for 20 cents apiece. The great part is that now it is possible examine records from other states. In a couple of hours we had 20 copies of records made. That's probably at least five times quicker than the old way. I had several Ohio records made. I'm going back again, once I organize a plan. I recommend it for anyone.
Yesterday, I put most of Ron and Jill's honeymoon trip photos on the web site. On Thursday, Douglas went to their home and helped Ronnie saw up tree limbs from fallen trees and trees that were damaged in the storm. Douglas said he got sore but felt fine the next morning. Yesterday, Ronnie went over and borrowed the saw from Douglas, so he could saw when he had a chance. Home
Sept 29, 2005, Thursday
Last Saturday, when I was over at Douglas's home, he said that Penny and he were going to take the '55 alive' driving class this week. The big incentive is the 10 percent you get off on your car insurance.. Right away I decided I wanted to do it too. So this week on Tuesday and Wednesday, Douglas and Penny took their divided 8 hour class in Maplewood. On Tuesday and Wednesday, I got on the phone and found a place I could take the class on Wednesday and Thursday in Plymouth. The class is good for three years. Because Donna gets up so early, she didn't want to take it. My insurance agent said I would still be eligible for the discount. if only I took the class, because we have only one car. The cost of the class is 20 dollars for each person. So last night I went to the first session. It was more interesting than I thought it would be. Home
Sept 28, 2005, Wednesday
I wrote a short article, which you may or may not want to read. It is: How many ancestors do you have? I also put a link for it in the genealogy section. Home
Sept 27, 2005, Tuesday
Ron and Jill Nolette returned late last night from their honeymoon in the Rocky Mountains He called on his cell phone as soon as he crossed the border into Minnesota. I had two short talks with him when bad reception in western Minnesota cut us off twice. I did talk to him today. He took 228 photos on his digital camera. He had to buy two small memory cards. He had strangers take photos of him and Jill, but most didn't turn out well. One even had a thumb over the lens. On some photos, he said he made Jill nervous when he was standing closer to the edge than he should have, his balance being what it is.
They did have a nice time even though the weather wasn't always good. They spent at least one night in Estes Park and couple of nights in Boulder. It was also the time of the year when the aspens were turning yellow. On the way out there they went through the South Dakota badlands, staying over in Chamberlain and Deadwood. He said he had a lot of work to do when he got home. There are three trees down in the yard from the storms. Home
Sept 26, 2005, Monday
Yesterday, Jim and Terri Hartline had a birthday party for their son Logan, who turns four today. Donna and I rode over there with Doug, Penny, and Mama. The usual suspects attended. Last Saturday, Penny helped me pick out some fabric for a curtain that I want between my entrance way and living room. She is going to sew it. With winter coming and still higher fuel costs, I want to find ways to cut down on my fuel bill. Last Friday, Douglas and Penny went to the Renaissance festival and walked around for four hours and then went to the Arboretum in Chaska which was close by. Home
Sept 22, 2005, Thursday
Last evening, the northern part of the Twin Cities was hit by terrific storms. At the home of David Nolette, three different times rains filled the street until the water ran over the curbs and half way into the the front yard. Fortunately, each time the rain drained away before the next wave of storms hit. At the home of Douglas Nolette, Doug, Penny and Mom went into the basement because of tornado warnings. Although not home, the area of Ron and Jill's home was hit the hardest. Douglas phoned Terry Hein, who said two trees blew down in the front yard. Many areas in the northern suburbs are still without power. This morning, I called Terry Hein who said they had electricity but no cable. He was concerned that he would not be able to see the Twins game tonight. I phoned Douglas, who said Ronnie had phoned him and asked him to call the cable company. It could have been much worse for the Nolette family. Home
Sept 20, 2005, Tuesday
Because the doctors at the Mayo Clinic didn't like the looks of Michael Nolette's liver, in the three day tests, last week, they scheduled an MRI for him, today. Happily, the results were good. His liver, which was donated in May, may not look good but there is nothing wrong with it. He will now have a check up every two weeks instead of weekly as he has had for the last four months. Praise the Lord. Home
Sept 19, 2005, Monday
Yesterday, Ron and Jill Nolette left on their honeymoon trip to the Rocky Mountains. Also Dennis, Jayne and Nathan left for Grand Rapids, while Douglas and Penny took Heidi back to Duluth. Mama (Jennie) wanted to go to Duluth with them but her legs hurt because of the wedding activities and sitting so long. Late Saturday, I posted my photos of the wedding on the internet. Because of the strong backlighting many of the photos weren't as good as I had hoped. Sometime yesterday Robert Lundberg posted the photos he had taken. There will be still more photos coming from Heidi, Douglas and Adriana.
Jill is the first Mrs. Nolette in twenty years, since Dennis got married in 1985. When Michael got married, wife Adriana kept her maiden name with a hyphen, in front of Nolette. As far as I know, we are the only Nolettes in the state of Minnesota. Home
Sept 17, 2005, Saturday
Today was the big day for Ron and Jill Nolette. At 1.P.M., they exchanged vows before a group of about 30 relatives and friends. During and after the ceremony, we all took pictures. Then they served a delicious buffet lunch. We sat outside and enjoyed the weather, which was almost perfect, except for a breeze that was a little too hard for the lighting of candles during the ceremony. Later they cut the beautiful Wedding cake. Before everyone left they opened gifts. Home
Sept 15, 2005, Thursday
Michael Nolette finished three days of test at the Mayo Clinic yesterday. He and wife Adriana drove to Rochester each day for the tests. Although results looked fairly good, Doctors were not fully satisfied and he will have to have an MRI next week. Home
Sept 12, 2005, Monday
Ron and Jill are hurriedly making preparations for their Saturday Wedding. Today, Ron Nolette went to the Anoka County Courthouse and picked up the marriage license for Jill Hein and himself. He also asked Michael Nolette to be his best man. Jill's son's fianc� will be the maid of honor. Last Thursday evening, Ron talked to our brother Dennis, on the phone, in Grand Rapids. Dennis and daughter Jayne will be coming but wife Laurie and son Christian will not. Ronnie's son Nathan, who also lives in Grand Rapids, will be riding down with Dennis.
On Friday, Ronnie ordered chairs and Jill ordered the cake. On Saturday, they paid the junkman to take away half a truck of junk. Besides the marriage preparations, Jill was on the phone today trying to make reservations for a place to stay in Boulder, Colorado, for their honeymoon next week. Just now, as I was just talking to Ronnie on the phone, the Pastor stopped to check on final arrangements. Home
Sept 8, 2005, Thursday
Yesterday, Ron Nolette went to the Anoka County Courthouse and applied for a marriage license for Jill Hein and himself. He had to show id for Jill and himself and then take an oath that the application was truthful. He tried to apply last week but he didn't have Jill's id with him. He also had to pay 100 dollars for the license. The higher 100 dollar fee is for people who do not take pre marriage counseling. He will be able to pick the license up on Monday, the 12th. The marriage itself is on Saturday, September 17th. Today, we met at our brother Douglas' home, where I lent him my CD player, which he will use for their Wedding music. Last night he prepared the Wedding announcements which will feature their picture. Then, with some difficulty, because of the card stock, printed them. Today, Jill addressed them at the office before Ron mailed them. Home
Sept 3, 2005, Saturday
Michael and Adriana Nolette had a birthday party for their son Sebastian, yesterday. He turned 6 years old. They had one for kids and then at 6:30 pm, they had another for adults. Relatives attending were Great grandmother Jennie, Grandparents, Doug and Penny and others including, David, Donna, Tracey, Robert, Trey, Megan, Ron, Jill and friends Marge and Al. They had snacks and a birthday cake, which was very good. Then Sebastian opened his presents, much of which had a 'Star Wars' theme. After the party, Doug and Penny took Megan home with them, so they could baby-sit Megan, while the Lundberg family, including Robert's parents, went to the Renaissance festival today. Donna and David went to Ikea again, today. Home
Aug 30, 2005, Tuesday
The full size original photos have been added to 100 Years of Family Photos. You may view them or print them. It is easiest to open two browser windows and find the photo you want to print in the first window and then view it in the second. Home
Aug 29, 2005, Monday
Penny Nolette finished the last of her 30 radiation treatments today. "I'm glad they're done," she said. The treatments reduce the chances of the cancer reoccurrence from 30% to 5%. More can be read in the Aug 5 article. Today in national news, hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana, Mississippi and the gulf coast. Home
Aug 28, 2005, Sunday
It's Minnesota state fair time again. David and Donna Nolette went to the fair yesterday and saw three shows. They saw Elizabeth Cook, the Tommy Horton show and the Andrew Sisters show. The Andrew imitators had great harmony and sang all those old familiar songs. Robert and Tracey Lundberg and children also went there yesterday, Robert's parent's, from Missouri, accompanied them. Although the Nolettes and the Lundberg were both there all afternoon, they never met each other, not surprising in a crowd of more than 100,000 people . Ron and Jill also plan to go sometime next week.
Today, after staying with David and Donna for over a week, Jennie Nolette returned to the home of Douglas and Penny, which she also considers as her her home. Home
Aug 21, 2005, Sunday
Robert and Tracey Lundberg had a double celebration yesterday. First they celebrated their wedding anniversary, which was on August 4th, by eating out at a seafood restaurant. The anniversary was their 15th. Then they came back to the home of Tracey's parents, Douglas and Penny Nolette, to celebrate her birthday, which was yesterday, the 20th. There were nine adults and six children at the party. Home
Aug 8, 2005, Monday
David Nolette threw a small impromptu pizza party, yesterday, at his brother Douglas' house in Roseville. The celebration was for his first social security check that should be automatically deposited this coming week. There were 12 adults and four children at the party. It included, David and Donna, of course, David's mother Jennie, Douglas and Penny, the families of Ron Nolette, Michael Nolette and Jim and Terri Hartline. My mother and every one laughed so hard when we were teaching the children the game of "Captain, may I." Home
Aug 5, 2005, Friday
Penny Nolette is now half way through her radiation treatments. On May 25, she had her periodontal gland and one of her saliva glands removed because she had acinic cell cancer. Surgery went well but reoccurrence is much less with the added radiation treatment. Although some days she is very tired, the treatments are going well. She will be very happy to see them end.
Because Donna had a day of vacation today, David and Donna Nolette went to the huge Ikea store in Bloomington. It is only about 15 miles away, but it is a trip on some of the busiest freeways in the area. Gas prices have now climbed to $2.35 a gallon, but short trips are better than no trips. Many people travel farther than that everyday one way to work. Home
July 31, 2005, Sunday
Michael Nolette gave his Christian testimony at Grace church in Eden Prairie today. It was tear full and moving. He told about his sickness, liver transplant, and healing. His wife Adriana was also on stage. Their children Sebastian and Natasha were also there. Many relative attended, including his father Douglas, mother Penny and grandmother Jennie Nolette, also David and Donna, Ron and Jill, Jim and Terry, and their children Andrea, Abbey and Logan, also Robert and Tracey and children Trey and Megan. Later Michael and Adriana had a cookout at their home. Terry's family and Ron and Jill did not attend but it included a family friend Marge. More can be read in an story from the Grace Church Bulletin. Home
July 25, 2005, Monday
Michael Nolette is making his weekly visit to the Mayo Clinic today. He is making very good progress after his liver transplant on May 5, 2005. He started the weekly visits, mainly for blood tests, after the initial hospital stay of three weeks and daily visits for one week, From his home, it is a round trip of 150 miles to Rochester. He is accompanied today by his wife, Adriana, who does a lot of the driving, and also by his children. Home
July 23, 2005, Saturday
The home of Douglas Nolette was without power for several hours today. Fortunately, the high heat index, which had been predicted to be 105 today, did not occur. Although the day was somewhat humid, there was a breeze throughout most of the day. -- Later in the evening, the temperature did get up to 90 and the heat index did reach 105. (Even the richest people did not have air conditioning less than 100 years ago.) Home
July 22, 2005, Friday
About 11 A.M. David received a phone call from Alice Larson who, traveling by Greyhound from Phoenix Arizona, was in the area and wanted to stop by and visit Donna, her niece. Around 5 P.M., she arrived with Donna's cousin Sharon, who is from Hudson Wisconsin. After a nice visit of close to two hours they left. Alice wanted to visit her mothers grave at a cemetery near David and Donna's before visiting another niece. Home
July 21, 2005, Thursday
Around noon, Jennie Nolette, who is 88 years old, felt pains in left arm and chest. After son Ron made a routine phone call to her, he learned of her condition. He called 911. Leaving the credit union, he went to brother Douglas' house where Jennie lives. By that time the ambulance was already there. She had very high blood pressure. After a conference with Ronnie, they decided to take her to Unity hospital. She was given extensive tests but nothing conclusive was found wrong with her. She returned home with Douglas around 11 P.M. She will see her own doctor next week. Home
Copyright 1998-2005 by David Nolette