News from the homefront

Hi all!  I wanted to update everyone.   I won't find out about my CNA test for another week about.  Then I will let everyone know if I am a certified nursing assistant.  WHO HOO! Then I get to work!  Even more exciting with my boring life of sitting on a couch with nothing to do.  

(That's sarcasm - if you didn't know)

I have clinicals these next 2 weeks - on Mar. 6/7, and 13,14.  It's pediatrics rotation at Denver health - i am sure it will be interesting.

Other exciting news -  I have lost 3 - 3 1/2 inches off my hips,  waist, bust, and 5 inches off my belly since last January (07).   That makes me feel good - I still have a ways to go but it's something.

Hope everyone is doing well - more people should write on this.

KK

Missing Dad

So I had a weird experience today.   We decided to go to PetCo for dog food, it is farther away than pet smart, today.  As we were driving home I saw the Kaufman Big and Tall store.  I suddenly had this vivid memory of Dad and Barbara walking in there.  I saw them walk in there before he got sick.  It was just as though it was the same time of day (even though it was dark out).  I don't think I can explain it very well - it was just so real.  

I think for a while now I have been okay with Dad.  But with this everything came flooding back.   I do miss him.  I can remember his long strides as he was walking into that store with his blue coat that I now have hanging on my coat rack.  Even driving to Colorado Mills Mall the other day to buy pjs for the kids - I kept thinking about the days I visited Dad at Jyoti's.

I think it might get harder as it gets closer to May.  If it does for anyone else, I would love to talk about him.  It might help.

I get to work with wildlife!

I am now volunteering at Greenwood Wildlife Rescue Center. I get to clean cages (they have an area called scrapeland where we get to scrape lots and lots of poop off the towels) and feed the animals. In the spring I will take the baby bird class, so I can help take care of them. They also offer raccoon and baby squirrel classes, which I'm sure I'll end up taking, too. You can check out the place at www.greenwoodwildlife.org.

Hi, guess what?

I have a date this weekend. Her name is Karen, and I met her in Walmart. I think I'm in shock - it happened so fast.

Only 6 more months...

I registered Tara for kindergarten Wednesday. She will be in an all day class. Yeah me!

Nursing Plans

So I am taking the CNA test on Saturday.  It takes 5 weeks to get an official license (if I pass).  My plan is to start working right when school is done.  My friend's wife works for Hospice and said she might  be able to help me get a job there.  We shall see.   I think I will update everyone on school stuff through this blog.  

 Also - Kiote's b'day is coming.  I don't know if we are doing anything - I will let everyone know 

Jill's Cartoon

This is cool: A German educational publishing house contacted Jeff to ask about copyright for an image used on oneworld.net. They would like to use it in a German/English educational book ("Your Carbon Footprint"). Turns out the image was a cartoon I drew to accompany an article for Oneworld!

Jill's New Job

It's official, I'm hired! I'm going to start teaching two kids art classes per week at the Colorado Art Academy (where I am also a student). I taught kids art while living in New York and really loved it, so am looking forward to this. We're going to do a 6-week session trial, reevaluate and go from there!

Here is Something Weird

This might sound really strange, but I was watching The Colbert Report, yesterday and they had on Leonard Nimoy, you know the guy from Star Trek. Well, he had on these glasses that looked just like Ed's and he just reminded me of him. It was kinda funny actually. Anyway, check Comedy Central, or the web and tell me what you think.

Jill update with Indonesia, McCarthy photo links

I guess I shouldn't request life updates without doing one of my own...

I am now approaching the end of the second trimester of my first year at the Colorado Academy of Art in Boulder. The school is just what I have been looking for over the past three years! The training is in the classical style, which means learning in the same manner and with the same centuries-old techniques as the great European masters (Michaelangelo, etc.) (My blog link will take you to see my student works if you'd like--they are subdivided by school in the left coloumn.) I will complete a two year certificate and then Jeff and I plan to go to St. Petersburg, Russia, where I will study at the Repin Academy for a year (provided I can find funding).

My ultimate goal is to became a portrait artist, telling people's stories through paintings. I'm also volunteering with the kids art classes at the school--and hope to eventually get paid there or elsewhere to continue to do so. I actually just met a woman at the hospital nearby who is talking to a couple of people for me about opportunities to work/volunteer doing art with children of cancer patients or patients themselves. I'll let you know as that develops.

Other than that, not much going on. Jeff and I went to Indonesia (he for the UN Conference on Climate Change, me for vacation with him after the conference ended). Check out our Indonesia slide show.

Here's a link to photos from our 2005 trip to McCarthy, Alaska. (If you click on "view slide show", then "option" in the lower right hand corner, then "always show title and description," my comments will pop up on the photos as you view the show.)

Hope everyone is well--Happy Valentine's Day!

Shona's Work

Hey All,

Sorry I haven't gotten around to posting pictures yet, I am just getting used to this new digital camera thing. Anyway, I will probably do it within the week, but if you would like to see some pictures of the farm and get info about our organization go to www.cooperriis.org. Otherwise doing well, I'll bein touch.

Shona

ELM tree 3 is up and running!

Our new family blog is alive! I've left it open so that anyone on the internet can read it if they find it (but only those invited can post entries)--so don't share anything you want kept totally private. We should definitely share memories of Dad on this blog, but I don't want it to be only about Dad--we should post things that are going on in our lives and definitely photos of our kids, events, artwork, etc. I've added recommended reading and movie lists, upcoming events, and links to other sites we want to share with one another. If you have other ideas, please let me know. This is a great way for us to stay connected and get better acquainted--use it!

I've heard that Eric has wanted a place to share memories about Dad and maybe other genealogy info--can this work for some of that? (I created it a long time ago and was inspired to get it going.) If not, set up a Mueller genealogy site up and add a link from the blog!

Oh--if I've left off any family member from the invite list it is because I don't have their address, so get it to me!

Dad's Obituary

I am posting Dad's obituary below, for those of you who didn't get to see it. I wrote it and sent it to the Elbert County News last year. Here it is:


Edmund Louis Mueller III, physicist and nature lover, died Monday, May 14, at Parker Adventist Hospital in Parker, CO. He was 64.

Ed fought a brief but valiant battle against cancer and advanced liver disease, both diagnosed in late February. Family surrounded him throughout his illness.

Born Nov. 19, 1942 in Battle Creek, MI, Ed lived a life captivated with exploration of our physical world and universe, yet grounded by duty, loyalty, and love for his family. His quiet curiosity about life, the breadth of his knowledge, and his subtle sense of humor inspired and charmed those around him.

The mold for Ed’s life and love of nature was set in Alaska—first as a child where his father was Commandant of the Army Arctic Indoctrination School, spending summers as a teenager working with the USGS, and later studying at the University of Alaska. It is in Alaska that he left his heart—he transferred to the University of Alabama to be near his mother who was diagnosed with late stage breast cancer—but he found great solace throughout his life exploring the outdoors and in the high plains of Elbert, CO, where he spent the last ten years of his life.

Ed served 21 years in the Army, retiring a Lieutenant Colonel and continuing service as a civilian in the defense industry.

Ed will be deeply missed by his wife, Barbara Miller; five children, Deana, Eric, Jill, Mindy, Kristi; two stepchildren, Jyoti, Shona; six grandchildren, Kiote, Cody, Gavin, Tara, Aidan, Rebecca; his sister, Karen Phillips; and many dear friends.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 2, 1:00 pm, at Kiowa Creek Community Church, 231 Cheyenne St. Kiowa, CO.

Memorial donations can be made in Ed’s name to the Nature Conservancy:
The Nature Conservancy
Attn: TREASURY—Reference #11547299
4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100
Arlington, VA 22203, USA