Omaha Zoo, Nora Grace with cousins Miguel and Gabriel

Omaha Zoo, Nora Grace and cousin Miguel

Omaha Zoo early June Miriam with Warthog

Regarding Burgers on the Grill, Raspberries, Asparagus, and Salmon

Haven't written in a while. Hmmmm.

We are eating well. That would sum up the last month. Since we have arrived, we have been at numerous peoples homes: Omaha, Strawberry Lake, all over the Twin Cities.

And everywhere we go, it seems the food is good. What can I say?

Burgers and brauts on the grill, salmon and shrimp, steak, asparagus, raspberries, corn-on-the-cob, Krispy Kreme donuts, jerky, bacon, out for breakfast (again), Grapenuts, Swiss cheese, cottage cheese with peaches and honey, Mom's homemade applesauce ("Ah, yes, 'AS 06,' that was a good year"), and so on.

Lowell continues his triumphant culinary tour of the US east of the Rockies.

She only jumped out of the boat once

We are currently in Strawberry Lake.

(Well, not literally "in" Strawberry Lake, but in the sense that we are visiting the area.)

Nora Grace went fishing on Saturday with her Grampa and some of his friends. Amy and I stand in amazement that they caught anything with the constant prattle and "Why?" questions.

On the way back in to shore, the boat owner told her, "well, the water is not too deep, why don't you jump in and swim back to shore?"

So she did.

It wasn't too deep, but deep enough to get her clothes soaking wet, which she also enjoyed.

We ate the fish that night at Northern Lights Annual Fish Fry. My, my, that was quite tasty.

Last week we were in Omaha visiting Amy's family, and this week up at my parents house. We hope to spend the next three weeks holding still in the Twin Cities.

Family Photo

Thanks Quinton!!

A News Flash from News of the Weird

One party active in the recent elections in India's Uttar Pradesh state represents the interests of "dead" people. Lal Bihari, 48, works on behalf of an estimated 40,000 living people who have been victims of relatives having declared them legally dead, usually in order to inherit their property, and once the government accepts such a declaration, the legal system in India is too slow, crowded and corrupt to bring that person back to "life." Bihari himself "officially" died in 1976, and despite several schemes (such as kidnapping a cousin in order to be arrested and thus proven to be living), he remained "dead" until his proof of life was accepted in 2004. [Reuters, 5-8-07]

612.333.3098

We will be staying at the above phone number in Minneapolis, except when we are not.

This weekend, we will be in Omaha, Nebraska, and next weekend, in Strawberry Lake, northern Minnesota, visiting the Folks.

Funny, how the collective noun "The Folks" needs no further introduction.

I'll do my best to get some photos posted shortly.

from Omaha

Hello dear readers,

It is Friday evening. Seven days ago, we left Varanasi by train. Monday afternoon, we arrived in Minneapolis, and Thursday, we drove to Omaha to see Amy's family.

Pork ribs by the mounds of pounds were to be had last night at Scott and Shawns house, and ohhhhhh were they good.

Today, we were at the Henry Doorley Zoo, and a good time was had by all.

Sam has a bad cold: watery eyes, sneezing, stuffy and runny nose, and a fine, macular rash. Still smiling, though.

A bit of delay by train

We left Varanasi by train on Friday night, hopeing to reach New Delhi early next morning. About 7 AM the next morning, we slided to a stop on a siding about 40 miles outside of New Delhi. This often happens when a train approaches New Delhi, letting the Express Trains head out fast.

But we didn't start up again. We just sat there. An hour passed and then another. Eventually cell phone calls allowed news to trickle in.

There was rioting in the town ahead of us, and some Gujjars had torn up the tracks.

And so we sat, as the hours went by, the temperature soared, and water ran out.

The girls did remarkably well, and eventually we did move out, arriving in New Delhi some time after 5PM.

Good thing we had planned for delays.

And why were the Gujjars rioting? Well, why indeed!

India has an Affirmative Action kind of program for the Low Caste/Dalit/ and Tribal Peoples. A certain percentage of government jobs, Medical School openings, etc, is reserved for them.

So there is a certain advantage to being classified as a "Backwards" or "Oppressed" group.

Well, the Gujjars are somewhat poor, and somewhat oppressed, but not nearly as much as the Dalits or OutCastes, so the Gujjars do not qualify for the same Reservations of Government Jobs.

They had, several years ago, filed suit to be included as Poor and Oppressed. The Supreme Court finally heard the case, and recently made the decision that -- while the Gujjars are not exactly rich-- nevertheless they were NOT poor and oppressed.

When the Gujjars found out, they started to riot all over Northern India.

And that is why we sat in a Railroad siding for ten hours on Friday.

Off to the US

Well it is Friday as I write, about 4PM, and 115 degrees.

We will get on a train in about three hours, and head to New Delhi, spend a night in New Delhi at the Solo Victoria hotel in GK 1, and then head to the airport on Sunday evening to get on a KLM flight that leaves just after midnight.

We arrive in Minneapolis around noon on Monday, and will head to Omaha later in the week, for the following weekend.

Hopefully, our phone number in Minnesota will be: 612.333.3098.

Things may scarse on here for the next while.