Wanna show some national party pride? Update on our traveler!

Hahahahahhaa ... when I opened up this jewel of junk mail, it just made me laugh. Me, a college student who has NO party affiliation and no money. All I get at Mom's house is junk mail, none rarely make me laugh. Here's the letter.

Dear Christina M.
The PARTY needs your continued support (I never supported them). That's why we created the new PARTY Party Visa Platinum card, an innovative way you can join your fellow Americans to help support THE PARTY.

It's simple. You will ear a 1% rebate every time you make a purchase. Then you can donate your rebate in your name to the PARTY National Committee - automatically - with no need to open your checkbook (which I never did). Or keep the rebate for yourself if you prefer (um, YEAH!).

Then there's filler stuff about all the "great" stuff from the card. They don't mention the APR and such after the August 2005 date. Then it ends:

I hope I can count on your support. We can't succeed without the help of PARTY MEMBERS like you. Signed the Chairman.
P.S. Don't forget to select to donate your 1% rebate to help the PARTY national Committee on the Pre-Approved Form...

Just thought I'd share with you some of the sad stuff that happens even after the election. If anyone is interested in this card to help the PARTY, don't let me know, 'cause I ripped it up. Am now going to talk with Matt online, since he has arrived in England!! He's at the hostel in Manchester, but the internet connection is sketchy at best. Yay! He made it!

Phone Call From Matt

Matt gave us a call this morning at about 5:30AM. He was stuck in Frankfurt, Germany. His flight in Chicago was delayed due to ice on the plane. Since he only had about 45 mintues between flights in Germany, he missed his connecting flight to Manchester. He was supposed to arrive in England 1PM (7AM Central) but won't make it until 4PM (10AM CST). Hopefully we'll get another phone call soon. Mom said he sounded really tired. He had to change some money into euros so he could buy some food. I guess he also bought a Star Trek book (although where he put it is a mystery ... those bags were STUFFED). Hopefully his luggage checked right through to his connecting flight. I guess he set off the metal dectectors - he thinks it was the pouch around his neck with the small metal zippers that did it (think Euro Trip, only around his neck instead of waist).

Since I can't write poetry, my attempt to rhyme my closing to you Matt is rather corny.
Missing you like crazy,
Love you lots
Mom, Christi, Buddy, Oscar, and Daisy :)

I had to hula-dance in order to get this smile out of him. We watched the bus drive out of sight before we left. 

Family shot! 

Matt calls everyone to say good-bye while we all tell jokes 

Waiting for the bus in Memorial Union 

Linda scrapes the ice off of the mirror on our car. Mom takes picture as evidence in case of scratches. Matt, Carmen, and I laugh. 

Again, the picture wouldn't turn .... it was an early morning for everyone, especially Matt who went to bed at midnight and was wide-awake at 3AM! He started picking on Carmen at 7AM- evil boyfriend!

Carmen 

for some reason, this picture won't turn the right way. Matt had to shower and shave before we left. And yes, this picture will be seen in the family calendar next year - I think in December where he can be compared to Santa Claus!

Where's Lancaster, you ask? Why, it's right there - - or there --- or somewhere in England! 

Lancaster, England! 

Lift-off in 3 hours and counting

Just got off the phone with Matt. He left for Chicago from Madison on the bus this morning at 11AM. Linda met Carmen and us at Perkins for some breakfast before we did some shopping on State St. and loaded him on the bus. Now he's sitting down at Chicago, getting his bags checked in. I asked for something pretty, but he hasn't any room! He was still packing at 6AM and two of us had to sit on the large one to get it shut! He flies to Frankfurt, Germany at about 7PM, and from there hits a connecting flight to Manchester, England. In Manchester, he'll be staying at a hostel (like an army barracks, I guess) for a few days before heading up to Lancaster for classes. He'll hopefully come home for a couple of weeks vacation in March and will also hopefully take a trip around England the other couple of weeks he has off for vacation.

Until he comes home again, I'm going to miss him like crazy - no one to pick on at Ed's Express, no one to go to the mall with me to shop for Mom's presents.....I think I'm going to cry :(

Hopefully he'll start a blog soon so I can link it to my page. UNtil then, guess we'll have to settle for this page. I'm going to go now and find a map of England for you!
Christi

http://www.lancs.ac.uk/

P.S. Moogie was so happy that Matt called us, she stuck in Lord of the Rings and is now watching it with commentary --- she may also have been doing the "happy dance", but I didn't dare turn around and look!

Can't put in a picture of the "boys" without posting a picture of my little Daisy :) 

Buddy and Oscar tease each other - despite Matt's prophecies that Buddy will give Oscar to Moogie as a present like our other beta, Oscar is still alive and swimming! 

Lexus as cute as can be! 

Proof that we were studious over Thanksgiving Break --- well, at least a little :) 

What happens when Matt is given the camera - and proof that I do have silly pictures of myself! 

Isn't she pretty? 

Here's the baby Braelyn --- ain't she the CUTEST???!!! 

LIFT-OFF TOMORROW!!!

Yeah - Tomorrow! AHHHH!!! More later (perhaps some pictures too!) Christi