| From: Sherrie (Original Message) | Sent: 2/08/2004 9:18 a.m. |
| Hi Family, Our summer is in full swing, and as busy as we are I wanted to say hello and hope everyone is doing well. I've enjoyed the occasional peek at the web site, with updates from Jack and Mari, and of course Rogers regular phone contacts. Rangi has been visiting our girls in Oregon for the past two weeks, with one week left to go. He is thoroughly enjoying  himself playing video games, going to the park with his sister Sarah and her baby Freya, and going to the Science museum with sister Mary. His cousin Jake flew up this week for a short visit, and this weekend Rangi will be with sister Jamie and her children Lakiah and Sebastian, while they go to the Faerie Festival in Hornby's Hideout. Donning wings is optional, I believe.I have been working for the past  three weeks at the Ontario Airport, which is only 15 minutes from our house. It sure beats the fours hours of driving I was doing every day while working in Van Nuys. The job I am working on is a temporary assignment, the 72-month deep inspection of a Gulfstream II. They scheduled five weeks to complete the partial disassembly, inspections, maintenance and reassembly of the aircraft. We have two weeks left to complete the job. After that, I am looking forward to spending the rest of Rangi's summer break with him, as he has surely been patient with me working the long hours. With Roger's support, I have decided to change my major from Aviation Administration to Industrial Technology. I'll be taking full classes next quarter at Cal State Los Angeles three days a week, and working the other two. What Roger and I are hoping is that I will be lucky enough to snag an internship at Southern California Edison while going to school, probably in planning. With his connections and influence at work, I should have a pretty good chance.A week ago Saturday Roger took me on a beautiful drive to Ventura, which is past Van Nuys another 50 miles or so along our mountains, famous for strawberry fields, vineyards, orchards and nurseries. His destination was the Santa Clara substation, where he was to meet a business associate to supervise the removal and replacement of a large capswitcher unit. The substation was situated in a large lemon grove and up a little hill. After dropping him off, I backtracked to Simi Valley where I drove up another hill to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, which overlooks the valley and surrounding mountains. Not only did Rog loan me his car for this outing, but also his cell phone, the ultimate vote of confidence! When he called to tell me time was up, I was standing in the full-size replica of the Oval Office, and had managed to see everything just in time for his call. Thoroughly enjoyed my day of liesure to bask in the conservative, down-to-earth ideals that were Ronald Reagans, and to pay my respects to our 40th President, buried there at the library. Also noted the work-in-progress on the airplane museum annexed to the library, which will include a retired Air Force 1 aircraft on display with other support equipment, such as a helicopter. Armed with the obligatory souvenir postcards and a book or two, I left inspired to become more involved in a positive way. I could see from the crush of visitors who flooded the library that RR had a way of making people feel proud to be Americans. I think it was both his faith (in God and his fellow man) and his optimism that made him a great leader. And he was humble, saying that he wasn't a great commnunicator, but just a man communicating great ideas (those of our founding fathers.) A classy form of leadership in this day and age. Everyone in our family have a beautiful August. We love you. Had such a fun visit with Michael and Barbara Cooper in June, gee is she gracious and so quiet until she opens up, and then so much fun, a definite spark of humor in her. They were both great sports, rolled with everything, wonderful. Take care. Love, Sherrie |
5 comments:
From: MariJack1 Sent: 2/08/2004 8:29 p.m.
Greetings to the "Californians",Sherrie,it is an absolute delight reading your letters,so interesting,so informative about that lovely Country you live in,your Family and the Aero and Power industry.It is really good of you to take time out of your very busy activities to keep the Whanau up to date,we really do appreciate this.What a great Holiday Rangi has been having,travelling all around the U.S OF A,staying with Family and enjoying all that good outdoor life (as well as the Computer games) of course.As I have mentioned before,it is great reading of all these places of interest that you obviously enjoy visiting,you sure utilise your spare time to your best advantage.Your new job sounds tops,I can see you in there right up to the elbows pulling that plane apart,what a time difference in travelling to and from work,I will send you a couple of recipes to help fill in the spare time at home,(only joking),keep up the good work Sherrie,it is lovely seeing people using this wonderful website to keep the Whanau in touch,.When are you due to race again Roger?
,lots of love to you all,Jack and Mari
From: Margret Sent: 8/08/2004 3:40 p.m.
Dear Uplanders
It was exciting, Sherrie, to read about the visit by the Vice President, and for you to view the various aircraft associated with his visit. Danny, the Hibiscus Coaster, has enjoyed reading your online messages and he expects more from you and Roger to read.
Margret
From: rona Sent: 8/08/2004 7:56 p.m.
Hey Guys,
I'm just adding my 2cents worth as well. It is great reading your letters and like Danny would like to hear (read) more, more often please. Also while I'm online, I have a favour to ask of you guys. Lately, I have been reading books that have been written based in the South - Georgia, to be exact, under the shadow of the Appalachian Mountains. The authors description of the region is so graphic it must be a really beautiful area. However that is not what the favour is about. In these books they talk about cornbread! My mouth waters at the way it is "talked" about in these books. The favour is, can you get me a proper recipe for cornbread? They probably have something here in N.Z., but I'm not sure if it would be the same. I would like the "real thang" - or near as. See if it's as good as a rewana bread! So keep those "cards and letters" rolling in folks.
Lotsalove
Rona.
From: MariJack1 Sent: 10/08/2004 2:34 p.m.
Dear Rona,your search for recipes from the deep south re corn bread,get on the internet,go to search engine google,type in "corn bread recipes",then you can make your selection from a vast range,love to all,Jack and Mari.
From: Sherrie Sent: 12/08/2004 8:42 p.m.
Hi, Rona,
Just curious about the author who inspired you to write about the cornbread! I love good narrative, was the story a period piece, and which author? Anyway, I grew up eating my share of cornbread, which was generally from a boxed mix that you just added water and an egg to, stir and bake for ten minutes, and viola! Probably no resemblance to the authentic Georgia variety, especially eaten in the misty shadows of the mountains with fiddles playing and the camp fire smoke rising. Cornbread from scratch is easy, from what I remember just cornmeal and regular flour, with a little baking powder and enough egg/milk to make a batter. And sugar, at least twice as much as the recipe says. Basically in my opinion it should end up tasting like dessert, even if it's served with spicy foods like chili. Now you've inspired me to get back to the kitchen! Take care.
Love, Sherrie
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