Another sunny day!

How much are we all totally loving this weather! Its so awesome outside. I went out in service early morning today and then I had a facial. Getting a facial is probably one of my most favorite things to do. It is so relaxing and wonderful. It would be wicked cool if all of us girls could go get like facials and stuff together. But I guess that could get rather expensive. Maybe we should just stick with the nails idea.

I totally love those pictures of Samantha in her big girl tubby! She's so adorable. I can't believe how much she is growing and maturing. Its crazy how the time flies huh?

Can't wait to see you guys, Evan and Sabine. It'll be a blast.

Hope everyone is having a good week! See you all soon.
Love,
Sheri

hi guys! i can't wait to be there!!!!!!! in 29 days ..... the pics of sammy are so great really happy to see her too so that will be great to do somthing only the girls! not much hee in paris we are getting into the rainy period now April is terrible with rain but not cold at all. do you still have snow? well got to get back to work but don't forget to blog guys it s funn! bye bye and kisses

Chubb Cheeks

 

 

Here's some cute pics that'll make you smile. Samantha is having her first tubby in the Big Tub. She had a blast. And as you can see I couldn't resist giving her a little mohawk. Love Gina xoxoxoxo 

Dear Sabine, we can't wait to see you either. Sammy will remember you if you just sing her the special song. She wants to walk so badly.
On the subject of diets, I was trying to stay on weight watchers but it's kind of hard to when the portions of food are like the size of my belly button, oh well. Hopefully I can get into a decent bathingsuit by June. And as you well know I love food. Especially cheese! Well please give evan a hug and kiss for me and sweet dreams.
Ian and Sheri, thanks so much for coming to visit and helping us with our computer problems. I'm so excited to have my own computer, I've never had one of my own. Ian you left your special black handy man bag here I realized after you left.
Well I'm gonna go get my study done for tommorrow before I hit the hay, so i'll talk to you all later. With Lots of Love, Gina

Sense of Accomplishment

With the smell of sweet Brazilian coffee on my breath, I crossed Wigwam street a happy man. I had just left the home of Geraldo, one of 3 Brazilian men I study with. After about 6 weeks and 3 times studying with the other two men in the house, I finally got some time with Geraldo. Although I had an appointment with the other two, they were not home, but Geraldo was there and had the Require brochure on the table. It turns out that he wanted his own study. He is an excellent student! I gave him my Bible to use until next week and I am going to pick him up for the public meeting and Watchtower study next week!

hi everybody!!! hope all of you had a good week end, we miss you and we are happy to come and visit you we will be arriving on april 28th at 1:10 pm boston time it will be from milan flight alitalia. it s only in 1 month. Well have a good day love Sabine

Nighty Night.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......... 

Hey it's me, Poohglet. I just fell asleep at midnight. I played for a really long time while mommy was having her study, but then I got really tired, I hate when that happens! I try to keep my eyes open as long as I can so I can see if mommy is doing anything fun without me. But my eyes just got too tired and I had to give in to the counting sheep. Well they are not so bad, cause now I'm cuddled up with my blankey and my binky, sweet dreams everyone. Love Sammy xoxoxoxox 

Memorial

So the day of the Memorial was great for us! I took the day off from work and we went out in service all day and we had some interesting experiences.

Daryl and I went to a Brazilian store across the street from Sole Proprietor and met a man there that used to play basketball with the brothers every week when he was in Brazil. He was very nice and accepted some literature and we told him that he could come to the Portuguese meetings held throughout the week. He explained how he works quite a bit and is not regularly available. But he told us where he lives and said we could stop by.

We took our lunch break at the Sole Proprietor. It was so good! And not too expensive.

We also did some exploratory in the territory--checking for Brazilian names and making record of them on the territories.

We had a Memorial attendance of about 135 or so. Not bad considering that it was the second of two celebrations (many people go to the earlier one) and that there are only about 85 publishers in the congregation.

All in all, it was a great day.

hi still feeling pretty sick!!!!! but the week end is soon now so i m glad. No problem for the french magasins Sheri i ll bring you some. it s stinks that the weather is bad again, us it s raining today not too cold but the sky is grey. i know what you mean by changing often languages on the territory, us the english are usually more relax and kind french are more in hurry and busy but we getting use to it now so it s fine. i m so excited that tonight is the memorial plus this our 1st time in the new congregation. hope that you are feeling better Gina, i can't wait to see sammy and kiss her little face i bet she changed a lot. ok need to get back to work ttyl sab

Not funny

What is this some kind of sick joke? It was like 50 degrees out yesterday, and now we're supposed to get a whole bunch of snow again! I'm not talking about the weather any longer. I'm sick of it.

On a happier note...yeah!! Glad to see you blogging Rick! It is a great way for all of us to keep in touch. I think its pretty cool about the Awake! too. It'll make it easier for us to keep up with just reading the magazines, and also hopefully it'll cut back on having lots of extras letftover at the end of the month. I know that sometimes if there is a set that I really like, I tend to use them the whole month, and then the other set for the month gets piled up. You can always see how wisely the organization is directed. Has anyone started reading the new book yet? At the meeting for field service today, the brother taking the lead focused on coffee breaks and counting your time accordingly. He read a part from the book about it, and I'm not sure if it was different or not, because I don't remember them actually clearly stating what you should do about counting your time, but the excerpt he read was pretty clear. I'll be interested to see what other kinds of adjustments there have been.

Sabine, that would be great if you could bring some magazines with you in French. I think we have some Require brochures at the hall in French, but I'll have to double check. I went out in service today in English, which I haven't done in probably close to a week, and I was sort of having trouble switching to English again. Plus its an adjustment just with the people that you speak with at the door. I've gotten so used to people being automatically friendly and listening, I got all flustered when the woman at the door this morning was sort of impatient. Funny how fast it happens huh?

So me and Jolene have been doing good with Curves. We went Monday, Tuesday, and we'll go today and tomorrow too. I'm glad we've gotten into the habit I think...of course we'll see if that holds true in another month or so...I hope it does.

Anyways...can't wait to see everyone...love,
Sheri

REJOICE!!!!!

Ah HA HA!!!!!! Pa is HERE!!!!!!

"And there was much rejoicing in the land"!!!!!!
{marching band playing, batons being thrown, guys breathing fire, men on stilts}

I'm so glad you're on now, Pa. I miss you. We definitely will go out to the movies and stuff. I'm going to come over, too, next Wednesday and I can get you're computers going. It'll be nice.

hello!!! i m so happy to hear from you Rick, you finnally made it, you are a blogger now like us. i can't wait to come, Evan and I are very excited to see all of you. by the way Sheri if you need me to bring some frensh magasines let me know i ll be happy to give you som ok. i know what you mean about waiting for the foreign lituratures, it takes for ever!!!! and i surely will be happy to go with you on your call. Hope that Grammy and grampi Rossi will be better, send us our love and kisses Leanne ok. My Grand Ma is doing better but it s starting to get difficult for her to walk around or do things on her own. We don't think we gonna take her to the memorial this year plus we didn't ask anybody to help us with a car, because of course she can't take the metro. I can feel bad about it! Tonight we gonna go and do phone witnessing at a couple's house it s cool, i like when you only 2 couples and do service, because otherwise it s easy to talk all the time and not doing much and i hate this. well got to work a little but i miss you all see ya later! Sab

Papa Rossi here

Hi everyone,

Papa Rossi is here to staaaaaaaay! I finally made it. I cannot believe I am
blogging. This is really neat. I can communicate with everyone at the same time.
Well, Jehovah's organization is certainly progressing by reorganizing and
simplyfing the awake only once a month and putting more emphasize on spiritual prophecy.
I cannot wait until we can all get together and have a whooping time. At least
I will be able to enjoy this summer. Year 2004 was not one of my better years.
Hay, someone stop me. I am getting too gloomy. Guess what? Did you know
they made a remake of "king kong" the movie. It comes out in December 2005.
Maybe we can make plans to go out to eat and see a movie when Evan and
Sabine visit.
Well, have to go. I need my rest. I have to go to work in the morning, YUCKY.
In the new system work will be so much more enjoyable.
PAPA ROSSI SIGNING OFF. CHOW.

Yup, it definitley felt like spring today. Samantha and I went for a long walk. It helped clear our nostrils. I can't wait for warmer weather. Love Gina and Sam

NOW its Spring...

Yup, definitely Spring-time outside. Evan and Sabine are talking about how it was 70 degrees out, and we're like flipping out because it was like 50 today. I actually had my window open while I've been at work.

Sabine, you have to come with me on a call that I have that speaks French. Her name is Agnes. I went there today and she asked me to bring her French literature because she really likes reading the magazines and everything, but she understands it better in French. I think I'm going to bring one of the sisters from Portuguese who is actually French so maybe she can study with her. She was really excited when I told her I would bring her the Require brochure in French. I'm not sure how long it will take me to be able to get French magazines though. Probably about a year, because it seems like its taken that long to get Portuguese magazines.

So is everyone all geared up for the Memorial? Unfortunatey, I don't think I'll be bringing any studies or anything, unless my crazy lady decides she wants to come. I guess that's mean to say, but she is a little crazy. She's Ray Voss's girlfriend. They're quite a pair. But they both seem to have such a love for the truth when they're mentally well, but otherwise, they're a bit out there. I guess Jehovah knows how much they're able to really do though...

See you around guys...
Love,
Sheri

P.S. I think its defintely time to put Operation "Get Rick" into play.

Mothra here...

Ev and Sabine,

What a great weekend!! Yup, it will probably take you some time to recover but we all need times like those to relax and rejuvenate.

I'm taking Dad for a liver ultrasound in a few minutes, and there was no work today, so it's not as..bad. He's so sick of all this doctor stuff though..

Pop and I saw Grammy and Grampy Rossi over the weekend and had a nice visit. They're stable but weakening of course. They're both pretty forgetful but it's okay. We just go with it. After all, they can't help it. Grampy's count is up again so he's going to the hematologist/oncologist again this week to see if he should have chemo...
It's pretty nice out today though still cool. But it's nice to know it won't be long before short sleeves...The longer evenings are really nice...Pop grilled chicken outside again last night. He did this all winter, actually. Shrimp last week.. I made a sauce of olive oil, butter, onions, ungrilled shrimp, white wine, fresh garlic, and at the last minute quartered vine-ripened tomatoes and the grilled shrimp, over angel hair. Everyone loved it. Shiloh had some too. I sat on the stool in the kitchen to make it...

Gotta go now.....Love xoxoxooxoxoxo Mothra

The Man from P.A.

Yeah...secret agents! (hence the "Man from U.N.C.L.E." reference) That's cool. It's sounds like the ministry is interesting and exciting there.

I think it's so wonderful that you are going to host a field service meeting at your house! That's great for you guys too because you don't have to travel so far. I'm sure that the two of you will be a wonderful asset to that congregation.

YAY!!! Cheese! All that cheese sounds so good! Sheri I watched an Iron Chef competition Sunday night and the theme was cheese! Oh it was so awesome...Mario Bitali was on there because he is the current champion. He made these roasted red pepper cannolis with a mix of cheeses inside, it all looked so good, I thought I could taste it! Mum, you probably know who Mario is...he's the fat blonde guy with a beard and ponytail and he has his own show. He reminds me of you because he always pronounces all the names of the Italian foods with an Italian accent.

We may have to start taking drastic measures to get a blog from Pa. Perhaps we'll have to hire some thugs to...actually I don't know what they would do. Just post something!!!!

:)

hey everyone! we had a great week end, on saturday we went in service witch we had a good time, it s funny because the english territory is really special and unny, it s like hunting people, we feel like we are secret agent looking for english names triyng to escape the gardner who try to find out everything of what you doing!!!!! anyway it s great though. then a new brother from vancouver came for lunch and we were supposed to continued service but we tchat all day and still did together our WT. then after the meeting he invited us to go to his place and we had french cheeze camanbert and brie with red wine that was awsome. somtimes i forget how much i love cheese!!!! Sunday was a very sunny and butiful day in the 70 so we hang out to some friends house outsid of paris and it looks like the country side. we had a really good time, Evan and the brother played guitar. Evan did his new songs wow i love when Evan s playing!!!! and monday I WAS SICK from all this. today i m a little better but still don't feel on the top of my form! Tonight they gonna officially anounce us part of the congregation and also they gonna announced a new service meeting at our house on monday afternoon at 4:15 pm. We are really excited. Thats great rick you are finally part of the blog..... you have to write somthing now!!!! well we can't wait to see you guys!!! by the way our phone is dead again but we keep it cool. have a nice day everybody love sab

My nose is going to explode

This cold is killing me. My energy is zapped and I feel like crap. Sam is also still fighting the cold. She is having trouble drinking her milk because her nose is plugged up, I feel bad for my little poohglet. It's 12:30 am and she fell asleep about 30 minutes ago. I've been trying to sleep but my nose won't let me. I'd like to get a little hatchett and chop it off. Oh well.
Sheri thank you so much for the dress for Sam, I can't wait to see her in it. The little goober will be running around soon. And that candle smells so much like a creamsicle, it reminds me of being little.Well I wish I had more in my brain to write but I'm a little spacey, but when am I not. Hugs and kisses to Mom, Pop, Ian, Sheri, Evan and Sabine. xoxoxoxoxoxox LoVe GiNa

Brazilian interest

You know Sheri and Ian, the responses you're finding in service sound like what the missionaries find in a country that's just opening up. It's so nice that you can enjoy pretty much the same experiences without leaving the country!!
We're looking forward to seeing you Sunday at noon!!

Love Mothra...

It's Spring Alright...

Yeah, nothing says Spring like a few snow flurries. It was wicked funny because while I was reading your blog, Ian, it was snowing heavily out. Its since stopped snowing, but the timing was just really funny.

So I saw that Papa Rossi has joined the blog, but has yet to make a posting...baby steps to click on "create new post"...baby steps to typing new post...baby steps to publish post...baby steps.

Hey Gina, how is Sam feeling? I hope she's getting better. Hopefully we'll be rid of this cold weather soon, and we won't have to battle these stupid colds...until next year anyways.

I'm totally looking forward to seeing you guys this weekend after Ian's talk. That'll be nice. I know my parents are looking forward to seeing you guys too. They also want to have the WHOLE family over when Evan and Sabine are here. That'll be the first time all of us will be together, I think.

Anyways...hope everything is going well with everyone else (could I be more generic?) That's all for now...
Love,
Sheri

The Weekend

So, now that I've got that out of my system...

We had a great weekend. We actually got some pictures of our school--we'll probably post them tonight. I'm sure you'll recognize some of the people.

Saturday afternoon I followed up on a Brazilian man's address that Sheri gave me who she found in early morning parking lot witnessing back in the end of January. Well, I found him and two other men that lived there. After thinking about for a few minutes, he said he remembered her--he thought she was "Japonais". Tim DiMase (we call him DeMais, it means "too much" in Portuguese, which he is) explained that she was "Koreana". Anyway, they served us some of their traditionally wicked sweet Brazilian coffee and put something in front of us that was deep-fried. I tried it and it was mildly sweet, which is what most Brazilian desserts are.

Well, the good part. After asking them which part of Brazil they were from and telling them that we learned some Brazilian geography in class, I explained the purpose of the require brochure and that we offer home Bible studies for free. Well, they each accepted a brochure for themselves, and each accepted a study! One of them in particular said to me in English, "Next week?" as in 'You're coming back next week, right?' Three studies started, all at once!

I was also able to have a third study with another two Brazilian men that also live together. We explained the Memorial, but it has been difficult to invite people because the closest Portuguese Memorial is in Ashland. I have high hopes, that next year they will be holding a celebration in Worcester. Then we'll have to rent a bus to take the interested ones! No joke! (Well, maybe a Club Wagon.) There is a couple from our group that have to take two cars to bring all of their students/interested ones!

Sheri and I have both seen such good results in the ministry since we started the class. Jehovah is surely blessing us and we are so thankful for that.

It's SPRRRRRR I N G !!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!

*HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY*, *HAPPY HAPPY JOY*...AND ON AND ON!!!! AH HA HA!!! I"M SO HAPPY!!!! AHHH AHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHH [screaming at top of lungs with eyes wide and tongue hanging out until vocal cords snap off and shoot out of mouth flapping in wind]

(I know you know what I mean Evan.)

Please help!

I belong to a tribe of blue-haired, South American natives. I hate blue hair. For only 3 cents a day, you can help me save to have it dyed back. Just look at me. How can you refuse? Please send a one-year donation today to Save the Blue-Haired Children Fund, 16 Church St., Oxford, MA 01540 Thank you and God Bless You

I think this is my favorite picture, wine, parmigiano reggiano, and beauty..... 

Mothra climbing back on board

Oops fell off!

Anyway, I have to work today, Ugh. We may visit Grammy and Grampy Rossi this afternoon....

Love Mothra....xoxoxooxoxoxo

Mothra on board....

Howdy!

You guys are so funny!! I love funny names, and I come across a lot of them with all the different patients at the hospital. Also, I used to go to school with a girl named Susan Smelowitz! We would have made fun of her (privately of course)except that she was a very sweet girl and no one had the heart to...and there is a local doctor named Dr. Peter Donker...( I s'pose I shouldn't mention that kind of name, huh?) When I used to work at Mass Electric I used to make fun of names a lot.. one last name was Schnable.We cracked ourselves up putting it in phrases and songs like " to be where little schnable cars...climb halfway to the stars.."

Crazy French names that make you drool on yourself!!!

Hey fellow bloggers,

Today I had to call to arrange a first class with one of my new students at Siemens. Guess what his name is...........Xavier de Yturbe! What the heck kind of name is that! What does it mean? Xavier of Yturbe. I wonder how the parents came up with it? It's like something they discover by leaning on the keyboard of their computer by accident and hitting some vowels and consonants and then...........Hey! That's what we're gonna name our son! Maybe it's some ancient empire that he was king of or something. He should be Xavier II or III because it just sounds cooler.....you know more powerful.

Anyway, when I had to call and ask for him, I had to pronounce his name properly and I wasn't even sure how. So I did, and I practically drooled on myself. I've never done things like that with my lips before just to say someones name. It was painful!!! Then to top it off, of course she didn't understand, so she asked me to spell it and I had to pull out a chart of the elements. I felt exhausted when I get off the phone. I think from now on I'm going to ask for Mr. Y. It's just easier.

Hope you enjoyed the blog. That's all for now. Love to all!!! Ciao!!!
Evan

P.S. The chart of the elements thing was pure Seinfeld. I just thought it fit nicely though.

Some Names Are Worth a Thousand Words and...PA!!!!!

That's too funny! There is a woman that works here named Burngasser...

I wouldn't want to be behind on the escalator!!! :)

So all we need to do to get the PA on here is:

1. Take him hostage and have him sit down in front of your computer
2. Duct tape his hands to the keyboard and have him login to Yahoo as himself
3. Check his email invitation and then
4. Go to Blogger and setup an account.

That should do it!!!!

Ma-Ma-Matriarch explaining...

Send Pop an invitation to my email, if that will work, since he has no internet connection on his computer at home and something happened to the one at Kadant. Or send another one to the Kadant website.
Then you will hear from the Pop-pop-patriarch!!

Mothra xoxooxox

Protest

We want Rick! If we don't get Rick, we'll be tick...ed! (chant 3 times in a row)

pa pa pa pa pa patriarch

yeah where's pa where's pa the patriarch of the rossi..... the roots .... the oldest tree.... (Evan said to write it not me !!!!)

The Patriarch is Missing

Where's Pa????!!!!!

[Picketers chanting: We want Pa! We want Pa!]

A great morning

I had a really good morning in field service today. Between the three of us in the cargroup, we placed 4 brochures and 1 set of magazines. Not bad, considering we were really only out for a couple of hours. When you actually get people home in Portuguese, it proves to be very productive and fruitful. Of course just like any other field, its difficult to find people at home. Still, its nice to see some progress. We'll definitely have to post some pictures of our class, and hopefully some of our "group" too.

Ian, Glenn Bolsun was out this morning, and he was asking about you and about whether we were going to Jamaica. I told him what happened though. But maybe we can put aside that money for our Brazil field trip!

It feels like spring today, I'm totally loving it. Not quite in the 60's like in Paris, but above 40, which feels awfully warm to me!

I'm totally loving everyone's pictures! Gina, your pictures are so funny the way they progress and tell a story. Its great...Got to go for now. Love,
Sheri

The Bloggers...Themselves

The Rossis in Chianti, Tuscany
What a wonderful time! I also posted this picture on the top right as a group blog picture.  

Down and Out in Jamaica...But Field Service is Booming

So, we were invited to Jamaica for relief work for two weeks in May. We looked into going for just a week but the brothers are looking for more of a commitment. We understand that it works a certain way, but it goes without saying that we are a little disappointed. Especially when it's wicked cheap to go! (Like $750 for 2 tickets)

But, on the bright side, I started a Bible study with a Brazilian woman that works at gas station and she said another man works there that has been reading the magazines and is also interested. What a good experience!

So, this morning I decided that I enjoyed pioneering so much this month that I am going to do it again next month! It will be a lot of work but I feel so much better being more active in service. It just seems like there are so many opportunities for Bible studies! I technically have 1 right now, but in a couple weeks it will be three and then maybe four. The study I have now is with a man I've studied with three times, a man I've studied with twice and one other man who was only there once. They study all together because they live in the same house and the time is good for all of them. And then, of course, after 3 studies with the 'mulher' at the gas station I can count that one too. Of course, "it's not about counting the numbers--it's about making the numbers count". But it's great to see results!!!

Soon, I want to post some pictures of our Portuguese class and some of our classmates. Coming soon!

i m finally donne with my day work !!!! great i m so tired now NEED TO SLEEP !!!! plus i m starving, i forgot my lunch food im dieying. (don't look the mistake ok ...). tonight is goody night at the bookstudy because one of the sister is going back to wales so it goodbuy party kindda!. So i have to backe a cake. Anyway just to say hi again it s cool to blog very fun. Sabine

hi

how is everyone 's doing today!!! you did really nice pictures Gina my favorite is the mc donalds one it s so true, you always dead after mc donald lunch. i was in service this morning went pretty good we did some return visit and now i m at work. Still don't have much to do but it s a blessing like that i can do some other stuff in between. Anyways.... i miss you all can't wait to see you in 1 month and a half we ll be there. have a good day bye bye sab ev

Too much Blogging, time to go to bed. Goodnight. Love Gina xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox P.S. I think my eyeballs have burned up. Oh well. See you on the flip side 

This one was taken Feb. 24th. Silly Poog. 

This one was taken Dec.30th, and look how big she is now. Someone please hook me up with some Shrink Medicine. 

And here is Jagger their dog. He's a nut.They bought Laci a Barney chair, but he's claimed it. He thinks he's King. He's a character 

 

Laci 

Giving Sam a little hug 

Here is Laci,she's 18 months.She had fun with Samantha. 

Sam and Laci eating lunch 

Sam playing at Laci's house (Wed) 

Little Twiddlebug 

After the MSG has worn off 

Pure Evil 

Death By McDonald's 

Tongue spurting and flapping in the wind!!!!

What is tongue spurting and flapping in the wind!!!! Please explain ..... !!!!!

Yep...April 14th will be a year since we left for Paris and Italy.

Sabine, I don't have the honeymoon pictures on my computer. I hope they didn't get lost! Actually, did we ever see them?? I can't remember...

Sheri, what is Blue Ginger? Sounds exotic....

About Venice, it is so neat when you see an article about a place and you've been there...but we were there such a short time. I'd love to spend about a week there going down all the little streets and out to the islands, and sunning on the Lido, a long island which is really all beach.

There's so much to do in Italy and difficult to decide where to stay...We want to stay a week in the Milan/Parma area and another week maybe in the Sorrento area with all that blue water..

I remember going to the Memorial in Oxford. Were you still at our hall then?? I'm pretty sure that Frank didn't give the talk last year. Was it Matthew? or Skip? It was crowded as usual, but last year we didn't have to run out so quickly afterward because no other congregation was going to use it after us I remember...I think.... Usually, one of the Spanish congregations needs it. We did miss the Special Talk because of the trip. Evan and Sabine went to their's though.

Bye for now xoxoxooxoxox

Memorial Attendance

You know...I have no recollection of last year's Memorial. Did we miss it? Were we in Europe? I remember we missed the special talk. But what about the Memorial? Do you guys remember going to it in Oxford? Sheri, who gave the Memorial talk last year at Central? This is really driving me crazy!!!

Yeah, I can't wait for you guys to come. We definitely have to go to the Blue Ginger! I know you guys will love it.

We'll have to do something with the guys...NO girls allowed. (Tongue spurting and flapping in the wind) Maybe we could go bowling or something?

yeah that s a great idea to do our nell for the wedding i really like that idea, and also i liked to see how is this place curve hope i can come with you for one time. i m really excited, that will be great if you guys can take some times off like this we can do some stuff together. well got to go to eat gina kiss sammy for us ok bisous bisous to you leanne and rick

bye bye sab + ev

Yea!

I am so excited that Evan and Sabine are coming to visit. It seems like its been so long since the last time! I hope you guys bring the good weather with you. This time, Ian and I will try to get some time off of work, so we can spend some more time with you guys! Plus hopefully by then ALL of the snow will be gone, and it'll be beautiful weather again. I feel like there's a million places we want to take you guys when you come. Mostly involving good food, of course. There's Blue Ginger in Wellesley, Ipanema in Framingham, il Forno's in Westboro, Thai Time in Worcester...lots of good food!

All of us girls should like go get our nails done or something before the wedding. That would be nice to have some time all of us together (NO boys allowed!)

Leanne, I loved those pictures! I can't believe its been a whole year since our trip! So many things have changed since then, huh? I was reading the article in the March 22nd Awake! about Venice, and it was so cool because we were there!

Can you guys believe its time for the Memorial already? I can't even remember where we went last year for the Memorial? We must've been in Central right? I don't remember it though.

So, me and Jolene joined Curves yesterday and we are very determined to keep up with it. Now there is slightly more incentive involved since I shelled out the $ to join. So if for no other fact than that they're getting my money, I will be there!

Well, off to work now...
Sheri

pictures

Leanne just wondering do you have ou Honneymoon picture on yopur computer by the way ?

wow incredible

hi all!!!

yeah Rick baby picture looks unbelievable it s like it never changed!!!
nothing really new except that we are definitivly coming to see you all, yep we gonna arrange few things here and there and we gonna take the tickets by the end of the week. Pretty cool!!! here it s pretty warm like 66 degree F great for service, except that we didn't do any of it today.... ho well ... So yeah Cancun will be so nice the water is just amazing, by the way leanne it's Juan and Marie Helena their name but it s ok the result is the same THE HOUSE IN CANCUN..... great opportunity to have nice vaccation time there.

It's so nice of you both Ian and Sheri to help us out with the ticket and we can't find the words to say how it made us feel when you offer to help us this way thank you again for everything...

Evan' s work starting to pick up again so it s pretty encouraging, i can't bellieve that we live for 2 month and a half with less than a salary ... so crazy... but now things gonna get better hopfully.

I m excited to finally meet Andrea it s cool to meet relative. we really looking forwar to Andrea and Greg wedding. ok enough talking got to go and run run run ...... i have to heliminate those cookies i hate.... DARN it!!!

bye bye
Sab & Ev

Great Pictures!

I love that picture of Pa and Jacki. Pa looks exactly the same--just with a little body!!!

:)

Oh well, I found out you can't play movies on Blogger. But here's the view without the cuckoo!! Bye for now.. Mothra with love.... 

And Laura? 

Remember Alfredo at Trattoria del Sole? 

I loved this!! Michel and Nargess live on Rue de Silly so of course, Silly Pressing!!! Remember I wondered if they ironed people's clothes all crazy?? 

Mothra took this picture on the way to Ev and Sabine's reception in Nemours. We took the next right to the reception hall. This was the river behind the hall where we took the night shots that looked like a castle all lit up..So pretty isnt't it? 

Pop and Jackie, weren't they so cute? 

I never thought I could have such a beautiful family. Thanks to Jehovah!!!! 

Jamaica...

I know what you mean Leanne about being somewhere warm. Ian just got a call last night to go do relief work in Jamaica. We really really want to go. It would be a stretch though, since Ian only gets 2 weeks vacation time as it is. Its the second time we've been invited somewhere warm and exotic, so I'm sure it won't be the last. I think we would all have a blast somewhere like Cancun all together. It was so much fun when we all went to Italy. I think that's my favorite place I've been so far. I would love to go back there...Someday hopefully.

My parents (or I should say 'my mom' because its really her who's pushing forward with the renovations) are re-doing the countertops to granite and getting new cabinets. I'm pretty sure the island will still be there only bigger and better. The floor will stay the same, but the walls are most likely going to change...They're getting a new vanity unit for the bathroom too, so I can't wait to see it. I doubt it'll be done by the time we go there in two weeks though.

So here we go...me and Jolene are going to leave in a few minutes to go to Curves. I even bought a new pair or workout pants this afternoon at Target just to get my self going...I've been inspired (sort of, temporarily anyways) by all you Rossi women and your "diets" and "good eating." These are foreign words to me. :P

Anyways...I'll let you all know how it goes...or if I don't let you know you can assume its not going at all.

Sabine, you need to come here so you can force feed me good and healthy food!

Got to go now and work off that Chicken Carbonara sandwich I had this afternoon from Quiznos!
Love,
Sheri

Satan shopper

Mothra here......
Pop is the you know what of grocery shoppers!!! Gina and I are trying to lose weight but he buys Ben & Jerry's, pre-made garlic bread, veggies with sauces, etc. He finally stopped buying cookies and pies though, until next week. He has become the ultimate manic shopper!!! Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!

Gina hit a squirrel on Dudley Road last night...She was talking to Sammie, saw it, hit the brakes and heard a thud.....She looked back and coudn't see it.... Then she said....oh poog. i hit a squirrel...But the baby had fallen asleep. Sad story... at least Poogie won't be traumatized. Gina set up the Big Girl car seat for her today to use next time...It will stay in the car. It's really big!!!

Sheri, I love your posts...let me know how Curves is..I'm thinking about it too. What are your parents doing to the kitchen??

Sabine, I love you too...and miss you. I wish I was where your brother is too..... Ahh... the tropical sunsets....Mmmm....and the tropical drinkies..... Someday.... Maybe we can all take a vacation to Cancun to Alejandro and Elena's.....I hope I remembered their names right.....The heat will feel really good....until we pass out from it!!!! And where Ian and Sheri went on their honeymoon, the fishing boats come in with fresh lobsters and fish every day...Mmm...mmmm.
Why are we obsessed with food?? If it all tasted the same, we'd all be skinny probably.

Well, that's all for now..... love....Mothra xoxoxoxoxoxo to all.

I love oranges!!! 

I Thought Evan Was on the Diet (not!) :)

Wow, I would never have guessed! I thought Evan was writing about his diet! :)

Well, that sounds like an excellent routine. Lot's of activity is good. I need to have more physical activity myself. I can't wait for the warm weather. 6 more days until Spring!!!! YAY!!

Yes, actually the SECOND year of marriage brought me an "enlargement". But now I think I'm stabilizing. I'm starting to eat more fruit. I'm loving oranges right now!!!

Evan and Sabine, we miss you guys too. We can't wait for you to visit. Sheri said she found some tickets online for $313 USD!!! You should talk to her and find out where. Love you guys!!!

Keep those pictures coming, Gina, they're great. I can just picture Sam whipping those plastic donuts around and hitting each other in the face!! That's wicked funny!!!

Yeah we gotta get Pa on here. Mum and Gina, you guys have to put the laptop in front of hime or something. Have him check his Yahoo email and then use the invite to join. Maybe you could help him post his first one. When I come over in a couple of weeks I'll get you guys on and working good and setup with that Picasa. Once you start to use it you're going to love it.

K, I'm signing off!!!!

Diet!!!! still hungry though!!!!

hey everyone!!! yes the 1st year of marriage bring me to an enlargement of myself yes it s true!!! maybe because we get too confortable eating fast running everywhere, yep that the package deal who comes with the 1st year, but i decide that the 2nd year will be different!!!! more sport, running every other day and swiming twice a week, (Evan is part of the club, just to support his wife anyway...) AND the biggest improvement TO EAT BETTER and less, soupe of green beens and broccolies carrots and liks humm yammy!!!!!!!! , yes misses, and cook the chiken with no fat i mean nothing greassy, and salads all you can eat of course!!!!!! a little bit of potatoes and pasta, just a tinny bit and at lunch not at dinner time cuz too heavy!!! there you go i m really ready for it, except that i m dreaming of nutella and burgers but i just made a reason and dream about it only except sometimes!!!!!!! anyways that was sabine nutritionist tip of the day!!! who wants to join? so anyway i m sure that by now my brother is drinking a nice cocktail in front of the indian oceant watching the waves crashing into the coral barrier and we are in front of our stupid computer doing stupid work!!!!! hummm i love it. Well soon it will be our time off to do so.... or to dream about it. ... enough of crazy talking.... Samantha you ar too cute stop it.... "don't hit the belly...." the picture are cute.... . Leanne i miss you my favorit mother in law i love you! hope that your dad is doing better and send my love to him and also to Rick why isn't he part of the booger oups blogger we miss him too. leanne hope that your back is stabilized a little you are in our heart. sheri and Gina i miss you guys too i can't wait to see you and do crazy crazy girl stuff, with Samantha!!! Ok i ve got to run and WORK a little just a little. I m sure Ian you will know who is writting because of the english mistake i will make!!! i let you figure it out love Sabine and vivoune (Ev)

Eat!

All this talk about food. I'm starving now and its only like 6:30 am. I'm on my way out the door to start early morning service. Ian has been starting early too which is not easy (or fun) for him. But it is a nice boost to your time, especially since he's auxiliary pioneering this month.

Diets...who needs them? That's what people who wish they could lose weight but don't have the committment say...I'm definitely one of those. My logic is that I know that I will not be able to stay on the diet for an extremely long period of time (like more than 3 weeks) so why should I bother when I know I'm not going to stick to it? Of course in reality its not a deep revelation, its just a lame excuse. Jolene and I have agreed to join Curves today though. There's one practically around every corner, so it makes it pretty convenient. We'll see how it goes...

Totally loving those pictures of Samantha. Is it just me or is she the most beautiful baby girl you've ever seen? (I can say that because I can't remember when Jolene was that little, and obviously Tony was the most beautiful baby boy I ever saw) We totally have to have Ian take her pictures next time. I bet they would come out totally awesome...

Well got to go preach...love,
Sheri

I'm Hungry

As usual, I'm hungry. I lost 5 pounds last week and I fear I will be gaining it back soon,at least until Spring comes. Of course I'm craving carbs..mmm..yummy. I just ate a jello pudding snack, ya that's great, but it didn't fill me up since it's like the size my left nostril or whatever. I need a large pizza with extra cheese, mushrooms and bacon, oh well. Sam is sleeping, she went to bed at 9 pm. She had fun tonight playing with another little girl named Abby at my girlfriend Michelle's house in Dudley, it was funny to watch them play. They had plastic donuts they were playing with together and they both started whipping them around and hitting each other in the face, Sam didn't know what to make of there dog Clyde. He's really big and all he wanted to do was lick her face. I wanted to punch him in the snout, not really, but ya kinda.Well anyhow I hope everyone is doing okay. I miss you guys over there in Paris, and today I was dancing around with Sam to the CD you gave me Evan, I played it on and off today, Sam likes it, I really believe that she remembers you singing when she was there. I started to cry though because your voice is so beautiful and the music fits it perfectly and the lyrics are awesome. I really do think you could get a recording contract if you ever wanted one, you could get someone local to record you, but you'd need a little cash to get started. Just a thought. Please send me any new songs that you write.Miss you. Goodnight everyone.Hugs and kisses..Sweet dreams. LOvE GiNa xoxoxoxox

Cutie Patootie 

Wow, I'm looking Sweeeet!!!! 

Happy Cootie 

Pooglet 

Hello....Mothra here....
I've been trying to get the Picasa thing set up but it's not working yet. Gina's been busy and hasn't set up everything yet, but will soon....she's been visiting co-worker friends who haven't seen Sammie for a long time. We have some recent cute pics of her doing a lot of "talking". Sheri saw some the other day. Today, she was really talking up a storm in her high chair.

I actually made supper tonight but have to confess it was pre-made Mama Rosie's manicotti with pre-made meatballs , sauce, and pre-shredded mozzarella cheese. I just assembled it and baked it. Pop bought garlic bread and imported Parmigiano and Romano cheese, so we will feast!

Pop's calling me so gotta go....love to all.... Mothra xoxoxooxoxox

Blogutopia

I just have to say...I love this. This is just great. We can keep in touch so easily, and it's good stuff too. Not just hello. Keep it going. :)

So, I hear that Mauricius is really beautiful. That's nice that they get to go there for business. Sweet deal! Hey, so what does you diet consist of?

Yeah, so the karaoke thing was cool. I must admit...I DID enjoy it. Ya know, though, it's not like that setup that Mike Zinkevich has. It's all on the computer and some of the music sounds really cheesy...Evan, I know you know what I'm talking about...MIDI. :) But it's great because they enjoy such simple things and they don't have to have the best.

Hey Ev, maybe you could score me a purse to give to Sheri...(prob not)

Hey, I bet everybody would love to see some pictures of Sam, if you guys have a chance. Have you gotten that Picasa setup yet? I love it.

Blogs and Stuff!!!!!

Hey everyone,

This is my first blog ever!! I've never blogged before. I guess it's better to have blogged and lost than to never have blogged at all. (I know, it's wicked cheesy) Prepare for a good blog.....

Sabine and I are doing just great here. We're having a good time pioneering this month with our new congregation, Paris West English. It's such a nice congregation and so far we've made some really fast friends. The service is quite different and a little complicated as is requires a lot more searching than usual, but we're learning something new and that's great. Sabine is really happy about it too! There is such a mix of people in the congregation. In fact, there are almost 30 different nationalities of brothers and sisters. It's nice because everyone, including the Elders tries to work to have an open attitude toward each person's individual culture. It really makes for a warm atmosphere.

At the moment, we're in the middle of a special campaign due to the tax situation pending against the organziation in the European Court. Their attempt is to put a tax ofo 60% on all voluntary contribution made to the society in the present and retroactively for the past years. (I'm not sure how many years back) In an effort to fight against this discriminatory attack, the society has printed a tract for us to give only to people we know well, such as family members not in the truth, return visits, Bible studies, etc. After they've read the tract they have the choice to sign a petition if they want. This campaign will last approximately 10 days and then all the signatures will be collected by the Presiding Overseers of all congregations in France. I'll keep you all up to date on the results. If any of the brothers or sisters back home ask how things are going here, you can pass on the information. It's official news, so don't worry.

Besides that, I'm starting a second teaching job in the north of Paris where I'll be teaching at Siemens which you all know, and a company that makes leather fashion, like clothing and bags and such. A bag costs about 1,200 euro there. Isn't it crazy?! The only drawback is that most of the guys there are gay, but I've been told that I'll have the only group of straight guys in the company. (blessing from Jehovah) Plus I'll make much better money than presently. So, I will be working 2 days for my present company and 2 days with the new company in Paris. It should really help Sabine and I to balance out our financial situation by the summer and come visit for the wedding.

We can't wait to see all of you very soon! We miss you so much! In the meantime, keep on blogging! We're blog blog blog around the clock tonight.....(sorry, I couldn't resist)

Vast quanitites of love to everyone,

Ev & Sab

Karaoke!!!

Mothra here....

Hey can I join the Portugese congregation too?? I lo-0-ve Karaoke!! Ian, I'm jealous. That sounds like so much fun...

Evvie and Sabine, Ian and Sheri....... Pop and I are so happy for you that you're having all these new and different experiences with so many new people and cultures. It really opens up the world. If we were younger and healthier, we would love to do something similar. But in the new system, we will be together with all cultures. And Pop and I are really looking forward to that.

Grampy Orsi is coming along a bit, eating better last night, but not much sleep and still quite weak. We canceled his ultrasound til next week, so hopefully, he'll feel better by then.

Visited Italy online again last night, the Parma area where we stayed, and it looks so pretty. Thinking of Trattoria Del Sole and Alfredo and Laura, our waiters.....and especially "limoncello" (sung to the intro of "Nessun Dorma")

All for now.....

The Mothra XOXOOXOXOXOXOOXOX

More Stuff

I swear Ian was meant to be Portuguese. Their most favorite past-time is karaoke. Obviously this bodes pretty well for Ian. So that's what we did last night...karaoke. I of course was just an observer as the rest of them belted out all sorts of songs from "ABC" Jackson 5...to "My Way" by Frank Sinatra..."Hey Jude" the Portuguese version...and "I Feel Good" by James Brown. It was quite the mix...along with lots of Portuguese songs that we don't know at all. I have a feeling we may become very familiar with them soon enough though if we continue to hang out at their house. We were sad you couldn't come Gina, but don't worry there will be PLENTY of other opportunities. Hope everyone's week has started off well...more blogging later! Love,
Sheri

our week end

hello everybody!!!!!! we had a great week end!!!! friday we had to clean the kingdom hall complex so we came back pretty late but it was funn, so we didn't had our meeting. then on saturday we were invited to eate at some friend s house !!! pretty exciting too. sunday was the seinfeld shows ALL DAY yes yes yes you heard it ALL DAY..... everybody is doing fine my brother and his wife are in mauricius island for a siminar pretty great!!!! My grand ma is doing better but i don't think she ll attent the memorial on tursday, but i ll have probably a return visit who ll be there so it s coollllll. Gina yes i m on this DIET programmmmm (because of you ) but it worksssss. we hope to see you very soon, we both love you all sabine and Evan

Return Of The Flyingmanatee 2

Hello,
I finally got a new keyboard. Sam is sleeping and I thought I'd say hello.To Ian and Sheri, I hope you guys had a good time at dinner tonight. I'm sorry I couldn't make it. I can't wait for summer, like the rest of us. It'll be fun to take Sam swimming and to the Zoo. She is such a little midget. Man, do I love her. She may keep me up all hours, but I'll never stop kissing those chub cheeks, and her little coy smile and stuff. She had a nice tubby earlier and before she got out I warmed up a towel in the dryer and wrapped her in it, just her little eyes were poking out, so cute, and then she passed out not much later, about 7:30.And it's 11:00 now. She loves her new crib. It has a nice soft mattress, she woke up a few times and cried, which she usually does, but she most times goes back to sleep.She looks like an angel when she's sleeping. And the other night it was about 2am and she was sleeping next to me and I was awake, so I whispered to her,"Pooga Poog",and she smiled while sleeping, so I did it a few more times, and each time she would smile. It was adorable. And she never woke up.I'll definitely miss her being this small.My little peanut. She in no way lacks love around this Walton House.With Me,Grammpy and Grammy and then her Great Grammpy. Evan and Sabine I hope we will talk to you soon. Happy anniversary, I hope you got to go out for a nice dinner at that special restaurant. I send hugs and kisses to you both. Write as soon as you can. Well, goodnight everyone and sweet dreams.Love Gina xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

The Return Of The Flyingmanatee

Yo Yo, what up my peeps, what's the dillio
Hey I'm finally here.Hello Sheri, Ian, Evan, and Sabine. Not much going on. Just t-e same stuff like getting pooped on and so and so. Sam is getting soooooo big and s-e talked through the entire meeting today, and did raspberries too. Well I just got a new keyboard for mum's computer and most of t--- keys are sticking, so when I get a new one I'll write again.
Love Gina
P.S. Well,it rots....stupid keyboard

Hi Sheri & Ian,
Pop, Gina, and I just read your blogs! Poor Jolene. That doesn't sound too comfy! Say hi to your parents for us, Sheri!

Ian, can you send Gina another invitation? It's not working for her at all, and she wants to blog you guys. Or is it Flog? Gina says.

My Dad's still not doing too well. He's very weak and doesn't want to eat much so we'll have to keep an eye on him....

Poor Evvie and Sabine. No phone for two weeks! I guess he can only blog when he's at work and Sabine too. I hope they get back on the internet soon.

All for now,

Love, Mothra xoxoxooxoxox

Not as exciting

Sorry, I don't really have an awful lot of exciting news to share. But I felt bad that I haven't participated in the "blogging" yet. In the Dupre family news, not too much is happening. Jolene is having trouble with her kidney stones again (it makes her sound like she's 80 or something) so she's had lots of doctor's appointments to try and find out what's going on because they said her kidneys are very enlarged and they're not sure why. My father's back is pretty stable I'd say now, but he does go regulary to the chiropractor (not Davini) and it seems to really help him a lot. My mom is busy as ever with her new job. But she does love it. They seem to really like her too, she already got a raise and stuff and she had only been there a few months. My parents are in the midst of demolishing the house...not really, but they are tearing up the downstairs bathroom and re-doing the kitchen. And that's about all.

Ian and I are really enjoying learning Portuguese, although it involves putting up with some really bratty and obnoxious children. I'm pretty patient with kids in general, and they don't usually bother me much, but there is this one little girl who is pure evil. Hopefully its just a phase she's going through.

Hope everyone else is doing well...Love,
Sheri

The Weekend

So, that "ass" story was kind of difficult to read, but it was really funny...a good laugh.

So yesterday we went out in service all day, believe it or not, in the snow. We talked to quite a few people, though, and we kept busy and made a day of it. We got Sheri a Palm Pilot so should could keep track of her return visits in it. And we can beam calls back and forth to each other, it's great.

I found my Bible student, Marcelo, at home and he asked me to come back today because it would be better for a study. Well, at least he wants to study. So, eu vou voltar hoje. Or, "I am going to to return today." There is actually another man, Geraldo, (I think) in the apartment that I spoke to that also wants to have a study. And Marcelo said that Geraldo mentioned it to him. So, I could have two students! Well, I just have to keep watering...you know.

Lost in Translation

A lot of the websites I check out in search of genealogical information in Italy are in Italian of course, and I uses the Google "translate into English" feature, which is usually a pretty bad translation but I can get the gist of the information. The furthest back ancestor I have found was born in a town called Muradello, Pontenure, in Piacenza. So I searched for that town, found the site and an article titled "Pontenure: il paese dell'asino che vola", and this is what it translated as...

Pontenure: the country of the ass that flies

Until many years ago the forestiero that, finding itself in public square to Pontenure, had turned the look towards the high in direction of the bell tower, it risked badly to being taken words. They were not then at all infrequent the zuffe between the pontenuresi and the inhabitants of the near countries that, recklessly, crossed the way Emilia imitating the raglio of the likeable animal or carried the opened hands to flank of the head for riprodurne the long orecchie.The pontenuresi in fact sopportavano some point out to the episode for which they were becomes to you, they in spite of, famous in all the province: the attempt to make to fly the asses. All that happened really 31 August of 1901 when, in order ravvivare a popular festivity, someone, more they say the Being worth poet Faustini who to the happened one dedicated an amusing dialectal poetry, had the idea to make to come down from the bell tower a asinello fortified of wings. The news had a sure clamour and magnetized in the public square of Pontenure a cloud of forestieri, onlookers to observe this unusual attraction.Therefore to the 16 in point of the fatidical day from the double lancet window of the bell tower a somarello appeared of Geppetto name that, legacy with a uncino to a stiff rope to the other angle of the public square, was, unwillingly, pushed in the empty one. The little animal slowly began therefore to come down and, debating itself, to make to move the artificial wings that had been applied to it on the back. It seems that the crowd appreciated the show very, but, when Geppetto by now had arrived to little meters from the ground, the rope was fallen apart.Not they were hurt between to crowd and also Geppetto if the cavò with some rubbing, but from then Pontenure it was defined, in way not too much benevolent, like the country of the ass. The time lenisce all the wounds and therefore today the pontenuresi have learned sorridere of this history, transforming it indeed in joy reason: second Sunday of september comes in fact organized the "Festivity of the ass", that it recalls migliaia of persons who reach to see the race of the asses and to taste the stracotto of asinine.

Just thought I'd share after I finished laughing......

Mumski

Sam at Lunch

We had a great time at Joe's American Bar and Grill. Sam was lots of fun, as usual. It was really funny when I gave her Sheri's credit card to hold. She didn't put it in her mouth for a really long time, she just looked at it was trying to say things, I'm guessing she was trying to sound important, like kids do. She's a joy.

So my vertigo is OK. The ENT doctor thinks it's musculoskeletal, so I'm following up with Dr. Mailhot. But it's been pretty good for the most part. Also, I've got my blood pressure pretty well under control. It's running between 140/85 and 120/75 so that's pretty good. I've been eating at least 2 pieces of fruit every day and drinking fruit juice. I've also been using my treadmill at least twice a week. I do noticeably feel better. Things are going pretty good, all in all, health wise...and otherwise too, now that I think of it.

Mum, have you tried out Picasa and Hello yet? You can use them to post pictures to the blog. Let me know.

Looking at Amalfi Coast pics

Hello everyone!

I guess I'm hopelessly infatuated with Italy. If you wonder why, look out the window! Snow. Again. and again and again.... Italy had a lot of snow on March 3rd. Saw a webcam of Milan Cathedral and another place in Northern Italy. Maybe more than four inches. And Initaly online said coldest in 200 years. Ooh. But it's nice now.

So, Ian & Sheri, how was lunch with Gina and bambina?? Cootabear!!

Evan & Sabine, Wow! The tax situation is really serious. I don't think they'll be able to get away with it though, do you? Won't the society take it to court? But France is a Republic and separation of church and state is really separation of church and state there. So, one never knows. Evan,
is your flu gone yet? Bungina told me you were really sick the night of your talk. Poor Cootsie..what bad timing. Are you better now? And Sabine, how are you? I hope you are feeling well. And how is your grandmother? Hope she is well also. The weather should be about 50 or so there today by the Europe weather map I saw this morning.

Ian and Ev, Pat Aubin has called a few times. Since Tod has decided to stay in San Diego for good, he wanted her to give his bound volumes and books too expensive to ship to someone who needs them. Gary Augustine ended up taking them, as he lives across the street from where she is staying on A.F. Putnam Rd. in Charlton. She sounds absolutely terrible, like she smokes...a lot...you wouldn't recognize the voice.. and the language....I had to wash my ear out! But the last time she called, she asked me to get her three books! For her! Well, we'll see.

So, Matt has made the decision to go to Texas? Sabine should tell him some of her experiences if she hasn't already. But I'm sure he'll do well. Charlie DeForge and Matt Masiello came over last Saturday afternoon to encourage the family, especially me. They were wonderful to me, and the whole afternoon was very encouraging. Ian Nicoll also taped the assembly for me to watch. And Henry has been coming every significant snowfall to plow or just to shovel the steps. What great friends Jehovah provides to keep us going!!!

So, does anyone have any bodily infirmities they would like to discuss??

Ian, how's your vitiligo...I-I mean vertigo.. oops. No, I'm serous..no that's some kind of drainage from wounds... But really, what were the results of the testes? I think I'm having trouble with spelling today...Let me know if they found anything else besides the four square inches of cerumen in your ear.... teehee

Sheri, how's your Dad's back? Is he working? Your Mom must be really tired working full time. But, I'm sure Jolene helps a lot..

Well, I have to rest again as usual. My bunion hurts.

Love to all.... Bupkiss XOXOXOOXOXOXOOXOX

Health News

Wow, so much health news. Everybody's having stuff done! I couldn't count all of the body parts and such, but I could tell there were definitely lots of them. Mum, I love how you write...you're very literary. Is that a word?

Well, I'm enjoying this so far and I'd love to see a post from "evsab" as they are calling themselves. They'll just have to make sure and say who is typing/making the post. :)

Hope to hear from you!

Update on last post by Mothra. The time I sent it was not 3 am! I had to change the time. It was incorrect. It's actually 7:07 a.m. March 11. Byeee..... Check your times too....

Blogs and Stuff!!!!!

Hey everyone! This blog thing is really great! This way we can even share photos and keep up with each other's activities. It's really wonderful.

Anyway, I'm just typing this e-mail on the corner of our street with a wireless connection because we still don't have no stinking phone or internet!!! We've been waiting for over a week for our line to get changed over. Well, we hope it will be soon so that we can have our free phone back.

Anyway, we're doing fine. Enjoying our new congregation of crazy english persons.. Did you know that there are almost thirty different nationalities of people in our congregation at the moment. Also, there are three new foreign language groups; Korean, Persian and Tagalog. It's a really interesting congregation and we've already made some fast friends here. We get along very well with everyone.

Just some interesting news regarding the tax situation for the Society in France. At the moment the brothers are fighting the same battle in court to avoid paying a 60% tax on all voluntary contributions made for literature that we offer. They're labeling us a profit-making organization. This tax is not only for now, but they also want it to be retroactive to include the years before.

We just recently had a local needs which was done in everyone congregation in France and we've started a 10-day campaign to fight against this taxation attempt. The congregations have been directed to pass out a tract that explained what the government is trying to do against us. It also gives any person who is interested in supporting us the chance to sign their name to a petition which the Presiding Overseers will collect after the 10 days are up. Each publisher is given 10 tracts and 2 signature sheets. We've been directed to only give these to people we already know.....return visits, Bible studies, etc... We cannot give them door to door or on the street.

So, Sabine and I will keep you up to date on how things are going with that. I just thought it would be nice for you all to know what's going on hear. If anyone from the congregation asks about France, feel free to share the info with them.

We'll be writing again soon! We love you all! KEEP BLOGGING!!!!

EV & SAB
XOXOXOXOXOXO WITH A HUGE BISOUS ON TOP!!!

Hi All! (Ian, Sheri, Evan, Sabine, et al)

It's morning again! Another lovely sunny freezing day! By the way, it's 45 degrees in Piacenza right now with a high of 51 expected. But the humidity is 71%. Ahhhh......I want to go there....the rolling hills, the parmigiano cheese, the prosciutto, the wine......

Grampy Orsi is recovering from day surgery Tuesday for removal of stones in his bladder, ureter, and prostate. It took four hours and they still didn't get all of them....He'll most likely have to have it done again..The poor guy, he's dreading it. He's a little sore but coming along. He'll have an ultrasound of the liver on Tuesday, (there may be an obstruction) and he has to see a surgeon for something in his left breast on March 31.

Grampy Rossi is up and down. His white count was fairly okay but this week it has gone up again and he is waiting to hear what should be done. Auntie Velma had her gallbladder out yesterday at UMass. I think her email address is winkebud@town.asp. It's a Shrewsbury town site. Winky Buddy is the name of her cat.

Sammie is the sweetest thing! She makes our hearts so happy! That smile... when she sees any of us..Great Grampy comes in the room calling her "Twiddles" and she loves it.. Pop comes home from work or she comes in our room to visit and she hears his voice...big smile! She now knows where our room is and crawls around the corners and pushes the door open then holds onto the bedspread and pulls her self up to come for a visit. And she loves disneyplayhouse.com. I play games, music, and stories on my laptop for her and she loves it. The only drawback is that she wants to crawl on the keyboard and bang the keys!!! She'll have to have her own little computer soon I guess!

What a cutie! I came home from the hairdresser yesterday afternoon, and she was crawling near the doorway into the living room. She waited til I was over the threshhold then whipped around speeding toward the coffee table. As if to say, "Try to catch me!!" So, of course I had to get down on my hands and knees and pretend to try to chase her. She was squealing with big smiles. And she loves when you say, "What's the lion say?? Rohrrrrrrr!" She also loves when you blow her a kiss. Big smiles at these things. So, I have no trouble forgiving her once in a while tempers.. After all, we do the same thing ourselves..... Gina bought a lovely new white crib for her that will convert to a day bed when she's older. She had received really nice bedding for it as a shower gift and it looks very nice for our little cootabuggie!

Well, it's time to get to work, ugh!

The one who can pick out the most body parts or health-related words mentioned in this blog will receive a prize!!! Oh well, that's life in this system.

Love, Mothra (Gina's name for me) XOXOXOXOOXOXOXO

Creating posts!!! YAY!

Hey Mum, I saw your post but you actually just made a comment on my post. Next time, try to find the link that says "Create New Post" and then your comments will show up on the main blog page. But keep posting, this will be cool.

What is a blog?

So you're probably wondering what a blog is. It's short for web log--a kind of diary/journal but one that we can all participate in. It's pretty, cool huh?

Plus there's this free photo management software that I know you'll love that works right along with it. Here's the link to get it. It's called Picasa. Google bought them.

http://www.picasa.com/index.php?tid=Y2NpZD0zNzQ5

So why don't you post something? Like the latest stuff that's going on with you or anything. I'd love to get together with you guys and show you how to use and get Picasa set up and stuff. Talk to you soon!

Love you,

-Ian

Hey! It's the Rossi Family Blog!

YAY! Now we can communicate about EVERYTHING!!!