The End

This is the END of Rosenbloger.blogspot.com! Thanks for reading!  

Weird MidWestern Weather

It's going to be in the sixties, weatherwise, today. This clearly called for a special outfit! 

When you wish upon a star...

Did you know there are Disney jobs in Seattle?
How incredibly cool would THAT be??

In case there are any doubts, we'd go in a HEARTBEAT!

NOT that I'm admitting that either of us got a job-related nibble. Uh-uh. Not me. Nope.

This photo should tell you at least two things: 1) I still haven't taken down my Christmas tree; 2) Fred loves his Guitar Hero game! 

Kirkwood Pizza Hut will have to do

Of course we HAD to have Pizza Hut! We decided it's the begining of a tradition for Gotcha Day. After all, Beijing Pizza Hut kept us alive while at the Radisson SAS... 

 

Whee!

The happy girl! (Wow, first Christmas, now this! What's next?)

Whoops!

Fortunately we didn't have the ceiling fan on when Liv let go of her "bouquet!" 

Happy Adoption Day!

Daddy greeted Livi with a bouquet of balloons in her favorite colors! 

Happy Gotcha Day to Olivia!!!

Today is Olivia Ann's Gotcha Day!!!

Hooray!!!!!

Our extended family has not yet gotten into the adoption culture, but many of our friends have adopted children. So, we'll be celebrating with the Zychs, one-half of the Tianjin Two, this weekend!! There will be Chinese food and PIZZA HUT!!!

Thank gawd for the [Beijing Pizza Hut! ] With all the stresses of delayed travel, lost luggage, and sleep deprivation, any culinary adventurousness we otherwise might've had completely vanished. I confess we ate peanut butter, instant soup and pizza hut throughout our stay in Beijing.

We also plan to celebrate at the Zych's by drinking a lot of tap water, most probably in Chris' wedding crystal! Those of you who've been to China understand how awesome potable tap water can be! Anyone who has gotten sick on Chinese water (like Fred) appreciates it all the more!

For those for whom Gotcha Day is a new concept, here's a link.

I've forgotten every A, but...

And while we're on the topic of Swarthmore, here's a link to the guy I belive taught me macroeconomics:Prof [insert expletive here] nearly failed me. Anyway, click on the link; the quotes are funny.

Swarthmore interviewing

So I interviewed another wildly qualified, highly academic candidate for Swarthmore today. He studies ancient Greek, plays piano professionally for pocket money, sings in an a cappella group, maintains a better-than-perfect GPA in all-AP classes, plays trombone in jazz band, plays soccer, volunteers for good causes, was named editor-in-chief of the school paper, co-captains the scholar quiz team, and that's only the talents I can remember off the top of my head. Oh yeah. He teaches piano. He also oozes social skills, which many highly academic folks don't. And the scary thing is, he's not even the MOST qualified candidate I've interviewed. (Although I must say I adored him and hope very much he gets in!)

My conclusion?

I'm very glad I'm not a Swarthmore candidate nowadays. I don't know how anyone gets in anywhere!

Here's a link to the beloved alma mater. And here's the link to what U.S. News and World Report says about it.

Portrait of the Artist as a McDonald's patron

Diverting a 2 yr old

So you take photos of the family and let her see them. Before you know it, the McNuggets are in her busy little hands and the world is once again safe for democracy. 

Ways to entertain a 2 yr old in McDonald's

Did you ever realize that a camera phone is an excellent way to divert a child while awaiting her McNuggets? 

A tragic yogurt-related mishap

 

Cardwell's on a Saturday

Miz Caroline, Stacey and Livi out for a ladies' lunch on a Saturday afternoon. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Caroline was my in-law, but now she's my dear, dear friend! It's so lovely to be with a dear, classy lady who knew my parents and has known me for over 20 years. She and Livi are now best friends. It was nice of them to let me tag along...

Okay, some of the women in Fred's family are big cross stitchers, and I guess that's okay for them. I never really saw the allure until I stumbled onto this website! Is this not hysterical??












Here's another link I'd best not post the photo from-- this is something of a family-friendly blog, after all! Sublime Stitching

(Note to family: No, this will not get me into stitching, sorry! Do not bother to buy for me!)

Putting out reindeer food

Putting out food for Santa's reindeer on Christmas Eve
(We just got hard copies of these photos today and scanned them in...)

Wax On Wax Off, Daniel-san

My brother-in-law, Ted, and I assume the stork pose in order to properly serve Christmas dinner.

Lew's memorial

For my dear friend's memorial service, well over 500 people packed what is otherwise an enormous church in Columbia, MO. Very few were actually from Columbia; people traveled from all over the state and Illinois to honor Lew.

Gneiliana

In the continuing saga of Gneil the Gnome, there was some suggestion that the little chap might be headed for Kenya, like his predecessor, Gnorman, pictured below:






















However, I am unsure Gneil's demise has really deeply affected my intrepid dentist. Says one of the latest haiku:

Emptiness from loss
Quickly replaced by squirrel
Perched upon the fridge 

Yesterday my friend, Lew Kollias, Division Director of Appellate/PCR MSPD died suddenly at the age of 53.

He served the hopeless unswervingly for 20 years. He was a tireless advocate, both for his clients and his people, a kind soul beneath the bluster, a great golfer and a hot hand at craps.

I am grateful for his friendship and expect never to meet his like again.

He will be missed.