The Turner Family

I thought I'd post this article about running with your dog, since that's an activity we aspire for Izzy, and it features a Catahoula.

Ghana qualify for World Cup after beating Sudan - Universal Sports

The games yesterday were wet and the fields reflected the weather, as did the kiddies. Tiffani suggested a picture after the game, with both a front and back shot, but only some of the troops cooperated or understood. That's Seamus's distraction -- er, best buddy, Max -- on his left. Dylan, 4th from left, had no qualms about walking directly to each puddle to stand in, reveling in the quality of the mud, flicking it with his cleats toward the goalie coach (me) like a bull preparing to charge.

Tiffani dropped us off at a pancake breakfast fundraiser at the Grand Ledge Masonic Temple, then we had plans to visit the public library and mosey home. The breakfast was good, but very sparsely attended: a mother and son, half a dozen firefighters , and us. (Local political intrigue: the former mayor , and the current mayor , were both present. Bitterness?) We made our way to the library via the new path underneath the bridge, but the kids had to regale me with all the stories of already having performed all these stunts, walked these paths with Bompa and Grandma. Some books and movies chosen, a re-introduction to the library cat statute, a ride on the library porpoise, and a pleasant walk home in the sunshiney, chilly morning.

Just for fun, Cynthia and some friends put together a team for the Traverse City Women's Championship Bowling Tournament. We called our team "The Amazons" and determined that, to be on the team, you have to be at least 5'8" tall and weigh in at at least 150#. (Most of us exceed that requirement.) Because we bowled on Valentine's Day, we decided pink would be the theme and all agreed to spray our hair pink for the event. In order to look mean, we also had to do the under-eye smudge, but that had to be pink too. Thought you might enjoy a couple of team photos. In case you're wondering how we did - we didn't score very well on the lanes, but we certainly caused a lot of "second looks" among all the other bowlers and spectators.

Dietrich and I had a recent email exchange regarding our blog posting on the book on which he collaborated. See below for more information, and a link to his sailing adventures. Very interesting reading, and great photos to boot. Electronics and digital information has made our world very small. Hi Chris, A link to your family's blog was forwarded by the author of the cottage book. I didn't see Jeff in the family list. I wonder how he is? And then how about your folks? A few years ago I shot photos of the enlarged GLHS for Clark Construction and hardly recognized much of the building. Bonds are good. We are currently in Black Point, Exumas, Bahamas. I blew off a year of work and Annie my wife has retired from teaching 6th grade in Traverse City. We have sailed from TC through the Great Lakes, Erie Canal, Hudson River and down the ICW to get here. Whew. On Saturday I was on the water shooting a Bahamian sailing race and have attached a shot from the Farmers Cay Regatta. A...

I use a variety of sources and criteria for acquiring books for the library: student and faculty recommendations, lists, professional reviews, among others. When the 2009 Michigan Notable Books list came through my email, I was surprised to see our former neighbor, Dietrich Floeter amongst the recipients. Scroll down to Historic Cottages of Glen Lake , and he is listed as photographer, his photographs described as "lavish." For those interested, here's also the link on Amazon .

Tiffani and I are friendly with folks that volunteer with the Obama campaign in Eaton County , so when they recently called looking for some hours, I agreed to take a shift. The agenda was for me to go to houses already identified as Obama supporters, and I thought this would make a great opportunity for the kids to learn a little volunteerism, and a little of the critical importance of this election. Plus, the bonus would be that the kids would negate any potential hostilities with GOPers , but that notion was for naught. We set off walking from home to the local Obama office in the gray, coolish weather for our 1:00 P.M. shift, where we were warmly greeted and well instructed and provisioned with pamphlets. Sophia and Seamus took along a little Halloween candy, which was a popular means for distracting them from trekking all over the east side of Grand Ledge. Since the kids were with me, the crazy incident in South Carolina with the gun wingnut from Halloween was a little bit on...

Just prior to mom's surgery , we all -- mom and dad, the Fees Road Turners, and Tiffani and I -- went out to a local Oktoberfest and enjoyed some hoppy IPAs, some cider , some pulled pork , and some political discussion . Oktoberfests being what they are, the event was outside and the temperature was in the low 40s. Our thin autumnal blood kept us from being too terribly warm, but the frivolity of the evening sustained us for about 90 minutes.

Tuesday afternoon about 4:30, and after a long day at the desk reading old dusty books, I decided to take a break for some mental refreshment. And in these moments I turn to the Turner blog. Only to find a mouthwatering description of hot dogs, which made me realize that if the greatest city in the world could do anything for me right NOW, it would be to produce a hot dog. Which of course it can: right on my corner and not 10 feet from my front door. Which is why I truly do heart NY. And this isn't just any old hot dog; it's a Broadway classic Sabrett's dog. Served piping hot out of near-boiling water. Two choices: "bigger. smaller." I took "bigger," with mustard and sauerkraut. On a very soft, almost sticky, slightly sweet bun, sliced down the middle to cradle the dog. $2. Time to enjoy: less than a minute. Here's a photo for your own enjoyment.

And finally...a picture of Rebecca from this Spring, from a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. This is looking back toward Manhattan from about half way, toward our neighborhood.  The tall skinny building with the point is the Woolworth Building... And this week was our first anniversary, so I am re-posting a photo from last year's event. This is in the Hall of Records in front of the judge.  We still look the same. Happy as Ever!

I was enjoying the photos of the Lake Placid trip and thought I would post a few of my own. Here is what *I* was doing today: commuting to Rutgers! It was hot.

Jack forwarded on a great (longish) article about golf and the power of myth. And, for another link, it also happens to loosely involve the greater Lake Placid area we will be visiting this summer. Click on the title above for a link to the article, or click here .

I need to remember to bring something to do on my flight, as this article cleverly warns.

Sophia has a favorite character in her favorite movie, High School Musical : Corbin Blue . MSU has a wrestler that mommy and daddy like, and he resembles Sophie's crush: Micah Carter. She couldn't stop staring at him last night every time he walked by, so I dragged her over to him at the meet's end to see if we could get a picture of them together, and Micah was enthusiastically willing.

Our good friend, Dr. J. Morgan Sweeney, passed away while teaching in London on Wednesday, August 8, 2007. Morgan -- an Irishman by clan, an Englishman by education, and a Gotham resident during his youth (his father was employed at the United Nations ) -- returned to the United States after completing his Ph.D at Oxford , and took a job with the History Department of Michigan State in 1976. Morgan wrote and lectured on modern European history, especially British, was active teaching in MSU's Study Abroad program in London , and was especially valued and loved by former students. Click for the obituary. Not having Morgan as an instructor during my time at MSU, I was introduced to him by our mutual friend, Drew Beiter, a former student. With Drew sequestered off working in California or Wyoming or the greater Buffalo area, and me living here in Williamston or Grand Ledge, I was able to more fully develop my own relationship with Morgan. More recently, Morgan was our infreque...

Congratulations to Sarah for her graphical and narrative Colorado entry, which was the 100 th post on the Turner Family blog , and to mom as well for moving us past the century mark with her entry on Josh's football game. Thanks to all extended contributors for keeping the family close, if not geographically, then electronically.

Kay, do you recognize the shirt? Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of Jason wearing it but I'm told that this was Jason's favorite shirt when he was Garrett's age. Looks great!