Vintage Photo Friday - Abe Lincoln and 1985 fashion

Okay, so you'll need to forget that today's Saturday.  I had this really good idea to share an old photo once a week, but I don't want to wait another 6 days.

Let's all just bask in the glory that is 1985.  Oh, man, what a year (decade, even) for fashion.  In this photo you can see that we took a family vacation over Christmas to Washington DC.

Now, lets look in greater detail...

Old Honest Abe up there, he always gets it right - his fashion sense is classic.

Then, Timo (our exchange student from Finland), on the left, is sporting the always popular tourist look.  Look closely and you can see his camera around his neck.  Other than that, it's all pretty normal.  Track jacket, sweat pants, white sneakers.

Dad is next to Timo.  He's wearing his Navy pea coat and what I always referred to as his Dr. Zhivago hat.  He got that hat around the time that I saw that movie, so I've always referred to his fur has as his Dr. Zhivago hat.  You'll also notice that his glasses have a bit of a tint to them.

Then there's me.  I think this photo was taken shortly before the Fashion Police showed up to arrest me.  First of all - Del Monte stocking hat.  Awesome.  John Deere green coat with yellow zipper.  Gnarly.  And blue shoes to match my blue pants.  Rockin'.  If I wasn't wearing the hat you'd be able to see my Little Orphan Annie hair.  Thanks for the home perm, Mom.

Last but not least, there's Tina, the stylish high school freshman in her high school jacket and Princess Di haircut (also permed).

Seriously - the 1980s - what's not to love?

Tune in each week for another Vintage Photo Friday!

Happy Birthday Trekker D!

Seven years ago today I was trying to sleep off the previous night's Oktoberfest party, and I received a call that my sister was in labor!  Imagine my surprise since she was scheduled for a cesarean later that week!

I got in the car, got on the road, and by the time I made it to the hospital (almost three hour drive), the baby had been born and he had been named Trekker.

6 or 7 days old

This was not the only time the little guy decided to go against the plan.  He's been known to say to me, "I'm hungry.  Can I have a snack of candy."  I've also seen him respond to the answer "no" by using a stool & chair to climb up onto the counter to get at the snacks he wants.  Little stinker!

Larry once called in to a radio show with a woman who was giving the meaning of names.  Basically, "Trekker" means someone always on to move...

look at those blue eyes!

He's definitely the youngest child!  He wants what the older kids have - he's told his mom to just go and he'll stay home alone.  Ha!

Trekker didn't know what to think of me with my make-up and fake eye lashes.  He didn't even want to look at me in the van on the way to Jennifer's wedding!

As the story goes, when Trekker was getting his tux to be the "ring bear (rar!)" he said "I not gettin' married! I not dancin'!"  And then, what did that little boy do?  He totally danced his cute little butt off!  He was breakdancing, and he invented a new dance that we like to call The Penguin.  Wear a tux, bend slightly at the waist, keep your arms at your side, and just wiggle a bit.  That's The Penguin!

There is not a shortage of pictures of Trekker.  He is often asking his mom to take a picture of him.  She said that he gets a prop or two and gets his picture taken.  His mom is the prop in that one up there...

This little boy is growing up now.  He's in first grade!  Tina said that, unfortunately, he's pushing the boundaries and rules, but hopefully he'll start listening and being good again before we get too close to Christmas...

Happy Birthday Trekker!  I hope you have a good day on your birthday!  Love you kiddo!

After the Garage Sale - an update

It was a blustery day here in Wisconsin on Saturday.  I think the high temp was in the 40s.  And I spent 7 hours outside at my garage sale.

The night before I was able to figure out where to put everything for display.  I couldn't put everything up because I wanted to put some stuff in the driveway - the only way people would be able to see the garage sale from the street.

Rhy helped make garage sale signs, Jeff got me change, and I updated the Craigslist ad with some pictures I took when most stuff was set up.  We were ready!  I got up entirely too early for a Saturday so I could shower and look presentable - you don't want to scare your customers, you know - and I made a list of corners for Jeff to put out signs.  He went on his errand and I went to set stuff up in the drive.

Not too long after 7AM people started arriving.  A few commented on how early I started the sale.  That brings me to...

#1 = Schedule your Garage Sale start time based on what season of the year it is.

I was not thinking when I started the sale at 7AM.  I was thinking of the summer months!  I wasn't thinking about the fact that the sun now comes up around 7AM...

I had a fairly decent flow of traffic.  Most people bought something, except for the men who came alone.  They were looking for outdoor items, and Jeff was not selling any hunting or fishing items.

#2 = Advertise.  Be specific.  Include pictures if possible.

I only advertised online on Craigslist and a few other websites.  A decent number of people commented on the Craigslist ad.  I took advantage of all 8 available pictures, and filled the spots with pictures I took the night before.  At least one group of women came specifically because I had included in the ad that Jeff would entertain offers on the motorcycle.  One woman said that she doesn't garage sale, but saw the ad on Craigslist, and she bought a set of dishes and a knife block for their new cabin up north.

#3 = Put arrows on your Garage Sale signs!!!

Seriously people!  Put arrows!  People do not know all the street names, and if they're at an intersection, they might not know which way to turn!  I included arrows on my signs, the address was kinda small, but that's okay because I was pointing people in the right direction.  And some people said that they stopped by on the way to or from somewhere because they saw the signs.  Yes!

#4 = Decide on the goal of your Garage Sale.

Is the goal to make money or to get rid of stuff?  I've always priced stuff low at garage sales.  Most things at our garage sale were $1 or less, and only a couple items were more than $5.  Obviously our goal was to get rid of stuff.  We made $125.  Not too bad.  I spent about $15 total on the sign frames and price tags.

#5 = Decide what to do with your leftovers.

I knew that we needed a plan for What To Do With the Unsold.  We're giving the clothing to a clothing pantry.  I'm keeping some stuff like the Christmas items, the Smurf glasses, and the doilies.  The rest, I'm calling St. Vinnies to come and pick up.  But you know what?  Seems like we only have about 1/3 of what we started with!  That's just amazing!

#6 = Clean up the garage right away.

Jeff and I got everything put away as good as possible tonight, so the car is now back in the garage.  No more sleeping outside for the Legacy!

All in all, it was definitely a successful garage sale.  I doubt I'll have another while we live here...

Thank you.

A cool thing about Blogger is that it tells me, the blogger, my 'stats', like how many views it gets, what posts, referred by what websites, etc.

I see that a lot of people have read the post about Daniel heading to the 'stan.  Looks like someone, I assume Bethany, put it on Facebook.  All I can say is that if Bethany has as much support in this time as it takes to have 60 people read that post, then she is one lucky woman.  Please, continue to be her support system.  It makes me feel better to know that she has you.  I'm all the way over in Wisconsin and I can feel the warmth!

Any hey, new cousin, if you make it to Wisconsin, you have a place to visit & a place to stay!

Rylee - the TEENAGER!!!!

Exactly 13 years ago today I was anxiously waiting by the phone.  I was in college, final semester, and about to become an aunt for the second time.  *squeee*

Earlier that semester, on the first day of Policy, the professor had to reschedule his evening exam, all because I told him I would not be there on October 4th.  

Him:  "Why won't you be here?"

Me:  "My sister will have her baby that day."

Him:  "Excuse me?"

You don't know how many 21- and 22-year-olds don't know what a C-section is until one changes the exam schedule.

Back to October 4, 1999.  Finally, I had to leave my apartment and head to campus.  As soon as I got to the computer lab (because back then not everyone had a computer; in fact, probably less than 50% had computers) I called my mom (using the lab phone and a calling card - before everyone had a cell phone, you know) and found out that Tina had a GIRL!  

baby Rylee-roo with her mama!

first birthday with her mama!  I really need to scan in some pictures that aren't of Tina...

I wonder how many people wondered why I was jumping up and down in the computer lab?  When she said they named her Rylee, I totally mis-guessed the spelling, but that's okay.  "Rylee" fits that girl.

At Loretta's house

not actually her beer...

note the juxtaposition between the NIU sweatshirt and UW hat...

The girl does her own thing and has fun while doing it.  Now she's taller than me, funnier than me, has always had more luck than I'll ever have, and is way better at sports that I would ever wish to be.  Thank God!

Happy Birthday Rylee!  Love you!

A true teenager, bored and tired!  (credit)