Monday, December 31, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Secrect Santa
At work we did a Secret Santa gift exchange in which we emailed the whole group our wish lists so that our Secret Santa could get it with out anyone knowing who they were. The exchange was so delightful I wanted to save it here:
-------------------------
Ok everyone,
Please make a list of your likes/ hobbies, and send it to everyone who is participating, so that way whoever picked your name gets a better idea of what to get you.
Thanks,
Lauryn
-------------------------
You are so clever Lauryn…
I would like a MAC (Makeup) Gift Card J
Elizabeth
-------------------------
I’m sorry Miss Elizabeth you are going to have to add to your list, no “ONE” gift card suggestion allowed.
You are going to have to work a little harder than that for your gift this year.
Throw in a “Home Depot” or a “Jack in the Box” gift card or something.
It’s suppose to be a surprise, how is it a surprise if you only pick one card?
Is the surprise figuring out what mall they bought it at, that’s not the spirit of Secret Santa that’s Google Maps.
We’ll be waiting and thank you for participating.
Happy Holidays
"The Grinch"
Elsa
-------------------------
oh Jeeze…
OK - so either a MAC gift card or Starbucks (No Home Depot or Jack in the Box please J).
Costume Jewelry, Hats, beanies or the high socks (the girls next door wear them) They are found at American Apparel…
Elizabeth
--------------------------
Sorry Miss Elizabeth. Maybe my Holiday song will make you feel better for putting you on the spot.
By the way what is the deal with the gift card discrimination; I chose those specifically with you in mind. I thought you would love them, I guess it’s a good thing I’m not your Secret Santa or I would have a very disappointed Christmas munchkin on my hands at the Lunch ;)
So here it is for some holiday cheer in the second week of November.
~*~*~*~
Oh, Jingle Bells, the kitchen smells
The delivery got away
Oh, what fun it is to hide
From Chuck on Timecard day, hey!
Jingle Bells, Tim misspells
The mail was late today
Oh, my dear, Dale’s not here
I might just scream from fear.
~*~*~*~
This year for xmas I would like…
Two or Three small colorful (or not) cloth pouches nothing bigger than 3”x6” (I need it for my small electronics)
A 10 dollar gift certificate to Walgreen’s or Target, Miss Elsa needs new Mascara or you can get it for me it’s Cover Girl ”Professional Super Thick Lash Mascara” it’s in a Hot Pink Container.
Maybe some fun high socks that I can wear with my boots. None of those socks with individual toes, those hurt.
or always a classic Black and White Movie DVD’s (Anything with Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant) I’m actually quite easy to please, so I’m sure you’ll be able to pick something that I’ll love.
Only request NO bathroom smelly stuff, NO picture frames… I already have way too much of that… so… Merry Xmas everybody! I hope you liked my holiday song J
Elsa
-----------------------------
Linda needs new markers!
I love the Chartpaks (available at Blick).
Elsa, I know this is one stop shopping, but since the colors are a
surprise is this acceptable?
Linda
------------------------------
I don't know Linda, it seems to me that there is not enough fear in
your heart that you'll get what you want. This feels pretty safe.
As I remember as a kid we were always hoping and wishing that we would
get what we really wanted. We were always afraid that maybe our
parents didn't get it right and instead of getting Black Converse High
Tops like we wanted we would get Pink L.A. Gear's.
So I think we need to throw in a couple more things into the mix for
good measure. You need to be anxious when you open your gift and being
surprised because you got the purple marker instead of the maroon one
doesn't really count.
Once again we'll be waiting and thank you for participating.
Happy Holidays
The Grinch
-----------------------------
Dear Grinch,
Since finding a maroon marker instead of a mauve one in my stocking
doesn't qualify as "living on the edge," here are some other thoughts:
1. I want to become better acquainted with Pulitzer - winning
authors.
2. I want to make myself a crocheted wall hanging (saw one on the
cover of Met Home) and I have no idea where to start with this.
3. I like to make my own salad dressing and love little cruets to
keep oil and vinegars in. I would also be most happy with a little
brush to scrub the insides of them.
4. ...and of course, the markers (the right shade of purple, after
all, can make or break so much)...
Linda
---------------------------------
santa,
i have been a so-so girl this year...
it’s true:
i tell my kids they can’t have dessert until they finish dinner, then eat their halloween candy for breakfast
i occasionally intentionally miss the bathroom waste basket to piss my husband off
and i do sometimes fake throw the ball to my dog then hide it as he confusedly searches the house (heeheehee)
but c’mon is that so bad???
so this is all i’m asking for ...
golf balls - nike power distance
or golf glove - left hand only women’s med
(and i promise not to use these on fridays)
or costume jewelry - like kenneth cole or lucky brand stuff at macys
or surfer t-shirt (M) or accessories - like roxy or hurley (once an OC girl, always and OC girl)
and lastly santa, and what i want most for xmas...is for the santa list approval nazi OK my list...so i don’t have to resend this!! :D
Joanne
----------------------------
I’m crying I’m laughing so hard. I loved this.
Elsa
-------------------------
Ok everyone,
Please make a list of your likes/ hobbies, and send it to everyone who is participating, so that way whoever picked your name gets a better idea of what to get you.
Thanks,
Lauryn
-------------------------
You are so clever Lauryn…
I would like a MAC (Makeup) Gift Card J
Elizabeth
-------------------------
I’m sorry Miss Elizabeth you are going to have to add to your list, no “ONE” gift card suggestion allowed.
You are going to have to work a little harder than that for your gift this year.
Throw in a “Home Depot” or a “Jack in the Box” gift card or something.
It’s suppose to be a surprise, how is it a surprise if you only pick one card?
Is the surprise figuring out what mall they bought it at, that’s not the spirit of Secret Santa that’s Google Maps.
We’ll be waiting and thank you for participating.
Happy Holidays
"The Grinch"
Elsa
-------------------------
oh Jeeze…
OK - so either a MAC gift card or Starbucks (No Home Depot or Jack in the Box please J).
Costume Jewelry, Hats, beanies or the high socks (the girls next door wear them) They are found at American Apparel…
Elizabeth
--------------------------
Sorry Miss Elizabeth. Maybe my Holiday song will make you feel better for putting you on the spot.
By the way what is the deal with the gift card discrimination; I chose those specifically with you in mind. I thought you would love them, I guess it’s a good thing I’m not your Secret Santa or I would have a very disappointed Christmas munchkin on my hands at the Lunch ;)
So here it is for some holiday cheer in the second week of November.
~*~*~*~
Oh, Jingle Bells, the kitchen smells
The delivery got away
Oh, what fun it is to hide
From Chuck on Timecard day, hey!
Jingle Bells, Tim misspells
The mail was late today
Oh, my dear, Dale’s not here
I might just scream from fear.
~*~*~*~
This year for xmas I would like…
Two or Three small colorful (or not) cloth pouches nothing bigger than 3”x6” (I need it for my small electronics)
A 10 dollar gift certificate to Walgreen’s or Target, Miss Elsa needs new Mascara or you can get it for me it’s Cover Girl ”Professional Super Thick Lash Mascara” it’s in a Hot Pink Container.
Maybe some fun high socks that I can wear with my boots. None of those socks with individual toes, those hurt.
or always a classic Black and White Movie DVD’s (Anything with Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant) I’m actually quite easy to please, so I’m sure you’ll be able to pick something that I’ll love.
Only request NO bathroom smelly stuff, NO picture frames… I already have way too much of that… so… Merry Xmas everybody! I hope you liked my holiday song J
Elsa
-----------------------------
Linda needs new markers!
I love the Chartpaks (available at Blick).
Elsa, I know this is one stop shopping, but since the colors are a
surprise is this acceptable?
Linda
------------------------------
I don't know Linda, it seems to me that there is not enough fear in
your heart that you'll get what you want. This feels pretty safe.
As I remember as a kid we were always hoping and wishing that we would
get what we really wanted. We were always afraid that maybe our
parents didn't get it right and instead of getting Black Converse High
Tops like we wanted we would get Pink L.A. Gear's.
So I think we need to throw in a couple more things into the mix for
good measure. You need to be anxious when you open your gift and being
surprised because you got the purple marker instead of the maroon one
doesn't really count.
Once again we'll be waiting and thank you for participating.
Happy Holidays
The Grinch
-----------------------------
Dear Grinch,
Since finding a maroon marker instead of a mauve one in my stocking
doesn't qualify as "living on the edge," here are some other thoughts:
1. I want to become better acquainted with Pulitzer - winning
authors.
2. I want to make myself a crocheted wall hanging (saw one on the
cover of Met Home) and I have no idea where to start with this.
3. I like to make my own salad dressing and love little cruets to
keep oil and vinegars in. I would also be most happy with a little
brush to scrub the insides of them.
4. ...and of course, the markers (the right shade of purple, after
all, can make or break so much)...
Linda
---------------------------------
santa,
i have been a so-so girl this year...
it’s true:
i tell my kids they can’t have dessert until they finish dinner, then eat their halloween candy for breakfast
i occasionally intentionally miss the bathroom waste basket to piss my husband off
and i do sometimes fake throw the ball to my dog then hide it as he confusedly searches the house (heeheehee)
but c’mon is that so bad???
so this is all i’m asking for ...
golf balls - nike power distance
or golf glove - left hand only women’s med
(and i promise not to use these on fridays)
or costume jewelry - like kenneth cole or lucky brand stuff at macys
or surfer t-shirt (M) or accessories - like roxy or hurley (once an OC girl, always and OC girl)
and lastly santa, and what i want most for xmas...is for the santa list approval nazi OK my list...so i don’t have to resend this!! :D
Joanne
----------------------------
I’m crying I’m laughing so hard. I loved this.
Elsa
Friday, December 21, 2007
Holiday Cheer from AVRP
Click on the Link for a special Holiday Greeting from Deen, Doug, Randy, and Chris!
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1331227171
Happy Holidays Everybody!!!
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1331227171
Happy Holidays Everybody!!!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
The Tenth Day of Christmas
On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me…
Ten Lords are leaping…
wow… that’s just wrong…
The Ninth Day of Christmas
On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me...
My true love gave to me...
Nine Ladies??? Dancing...???
The Eight Day of Christmas
On the eight day of Christmas
My true love gave to me…
... 5 Golden….no wait…
10 Frogs….wooo.. that can’t be right….
I’m sorry… I think I’ve had too much to drink…
I shouldn’t have had that 4th glass of wine during lunch… bad idea…
Note to self always stop at 3.
ALWAYS during lunch just 3, got to remind Elizabeth to cut me off at 3…
Oh well I guess we’ll all find out what the eight day of Christmas is together…
100 DVD's on their way to Germany
Hi everbody just wanted to let you know that we have about 100 DVD's on their way to Germany. That should keep them busy for a while, we hope :)
From James Bond to the West Wing, from Romantic Comedy to Indiana Jones. I think we have covered a good variety.
With all our love
The AVRP Gang
From James Bond to the West Wing, from Romantic Comedy to Indiana Jones. I think we have covered a good variety.
With all our love
The AVRP Gang
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
TESTING
HI GUYS! Glad to hear you are being taken care of!
RStellar - Congrats on getting this up and running in German... I can't even figure it out in English! ;) Hopefully this works, if so I'll post more later!
LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!
Randi
RStellar - Congrats on getting this up and running in German... I can't even figure it out in English! ;) Hopefully this works, if so I'll post more later!
LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!
Randi
The Seventh Day of Christmas
On the seventh day of ChristmasMy true love gave to me…
Seven Swans a Swimming,
Six Grapevine Cakes,
Five Gluggs of Glogg,
Four Calling Birds,
Three Creepy Dogs,
Two Turtle Doves and a Fat Bastard in Hawaii
On the eight day of Christmas
My true love gave to me…
... 5 Golden….no wait….10 Frogs….wooo.. that can’t be right….
I’m sorry… I think I’ve had too much to drink… I shouldn’t have had that 4th glass of wine during lunch… bad idea…
Note to self always stop at 3. ALWAYS during lunch just 3, got to remind Elizabeth to cut me off at 3…
Oh well I guess we’ll all find out what the eight day of Christmas is together…
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
DVDs
Between Jeff, Brad, and Nancy we should be able to get a few movies shipped out to you. Thinking of you Dave. Sending all our love. Don't eat too much cheese.
Update, Chocolates and DVD's
Glad to hear things are going well in So Cal. Everything is moving along hear in Germany just fine. Dave gets CONSTANT care. Every morning the 3 Dr's come into our room, and check on Dave, and get the plan going for the day. They are VERY concerned about his pain, and are trying to find the right combination of things to keep it under control. They are using homeopathic (natural) products applied to the hip, as well as different natural products given intravenously. I think they are starting mistletoe toe today. The nurse is in the room about once every hour changing his medications, etc...
They will be starting Dave on a chemo called METHOTREXATE today that he will get once a week. (The chemo-sensitivity test takes about a week, so we may change this to a different chemo later.) I will fill you in when I find out.
The See's candies are a big hit with the staff! They arrived on Saturday. Thank you so much for sending those over.
We are breezing right through all of our DVD's we brought, so if you are wondering what you could send us, DVD's would be great! Maybe you could take up a collection of used ones from friends and family? (If you take them out of the box's they come in, and put them in a small notebook type CD holder they do not take up too much room.)
The address here is:
Leonardis Clinic
Abt-Walther-Weg 14-16
D-83670 Bad Heilbrunn
Germany
Thanks for all your emails! We love keeping in touch w/ everyone back home.
Randi
They will be starting Dave on a chemo called METHOTREXATE today that he will get once a week. (The chemo-sensitivity test takes about a week, so we may change this to a different chemo later.) I will fill you in when I find out.
The See's candies are a big hit with the staff! They arrived on Saturday. Thank you so much for sending those over.
We are breezing right through all of our DVD's we brought, so if you are wondering what you could send us, DVD's would be great! Maybe you could take up a collection of used ones from friends and family? (If you take them out of the box's they come in, and put them in a small notebook type CD holder they do not take up too much room.)
The address here is:
Leonardis Clinic
Abt-Walther-Weg 14-16
D-83670 Bad Heilbrunn
Germany
Thanks for all your emails! We love keeping in touch w/ everyone back home.
Randi
Monday, December 17, 2007
Update from Dave.
Hi All -
Below is an email Dave sent to family. I can not say enough about the constant and attentive care we have been getting here. I DEFINITELY feel we made the right move in coming to Germany!
Tomorrow the Dr's will have the results from the chemo-sensitivity test, and they will start Dave on Chemo specifically targeted to work on his type of cancer.
The other patients that we have talked to are all having fantastic results, and are back again for more medicine at the clinic, after months and months of healthy living back at home.
Almost all of the staff speak PERFECT English, and they still apologize for their errors!
Alex and I are trying to stay busy, w/o abandoning Dave for the whole day.
It is a tough balancing act w/ a 10 year old! Attached please see the email Alex sent to his class for a few extra laughs! Love to you all, and more later -
XOXO
Randi
From Dave
Hi Mom and family (pls route if you can):
The Clinique is great with a very attetinve staff. Doctors are conferring and the treatment planned for dendretic cell the starts in Jan but we are trying to move that up. I get daily light doses of chemo that don't seem to affect me. My leg is still sore and I fell this morning to my embarrassment that set me back a bit. I am on crutches now. Randi and Alex made a trip into Bad Tolz about a 10 min. bus ride to check out the Christmas market.
The food is good and rich and I should have no problems maintaining my weight. The rooms are adequate with CNN and movies we can use.
More later as dinner is getting ready to be served.
Love Dave
Below is an email Dave sent to family. I can not say enough about the constant and attentive care we have been getting here. I DEFINITELY feel we made the right move in coming to Germany!
Tomorrow the Dr's will have the results from the chemo-sensitivity test, and they will start Dave on Chemo specifically targeted to work on his type of cancer.
The other patients that we have talked to are all having fantastic results, and are back again for more medicine at the clinic, after months and months of healthy living back at home.
Almost all of the staff speak PERFECT English, and they still apologize for their errors!
Alex and I are trying to stay busy, w/o abandoning Dave for the whole day.
It is a tough balancing act w/ a 10 year old! Attached please see the email Alex sent to his class for a few extra laughs! Love to you all, and more later -
XOXO
Randi
From Dave
Hi Mom and family (pls route if you can):
The Clinique is great with a very attetinve staff. Doctors are conferring and the treatment planned for dendretic cell the starts in Jan but we are trying to move that up. I get daily light doses of chemo that don't seem to affect me. My leg is still sore and I fell this morning to my embarrassment that set me back a bit. I am on crutches now. Randi and Alex made a trip into Bad Tolz about a 10 min. bus ride to check out the Christmas market.
The food is good and rich and I should have no problems maintaining my weight. The rooms are adequate with CNN and movies we can use.
More later as dinner is getting ready to be served.
Love Dave
The Sixth Day of Christmas
On the sixth day of ChristmasMy true love gave to me…
Six Grapevine Cakes….
We Made It!
Hello! Here we are in Germany! The flight was fine - no problems at all.
Dave needed a wheel chair for the airports, but now that we are here at the clinic, he is back to using his cane. I think he will start to ween himself off of that soon.
I am still having technical difficulties w/ our laptop, and the wireless connection, (also the charger & converter!) so for now I am using the common computer here at the clinic. (in other words, I do not have all my contacts listed here, so please forward this to the people you know, that I may have left off the list.)
The clinic is very quaint, just like something you would see in the film "The Sound of Music" The staff are all VERY friendly, apologize for their lack of English (which is VERY VERY VERY good!) and are quite caring and helpful.
Dave has started today on iv's of Vitamin C, Selinium, and 2 homeopathic chemo therapies. They give these to him in the room. The room could be described as a hotel room, except the floor is linoleum instead of carpet. Other than that it is quite nice. It is large enough for all 3 twin beds (one is a regular hospital bed,) a small coffee table w/ 2 lounge chairs, a desk and chair (for Alex's school work!) and a chest with a small TV & DVD player on it. The bathroom is beautiful tile from floor to ceiling on all 4 walls, with 2 sinks and a tub/ shower combo - very nice.
The funniest thing I have found, is the keyboard at this computer!! It has some of the letters and symbols in the wrong places, but they do not work the way it shows! It works just like a standard keyboard. (a little confusing when you look for the "Y" where it should be on the keyboard, but there is a "Z" there! So I find the "Y", over where the Z should be, but when I press the "Y" I get a Z. It took me about an hour to figure out where the @ was! That is because if you "look" for it, it is on the same key as the Q. And if you "look" at the symbol on top of the number 2 key, it is this: " BUT.... to get a @ you still press shift and 2. and to get a " you press some other funny key that I just found on accident!! I don't know if I am explaining it correctly, or if you guy's get it, but I feel like I am on candid camera!!
Oh well, Alex is chompin at the bit to get on the computer and play "runescape" so I will sign off for now.
Check out the website AVRP made for Dave! www.cheeringdaveon.blogspot.com You can add your own comments, and when I leard how to read German, I will try to add mine too! (The directions are all written in German over here!!)
Love to you all -
Randi, Dave & Alex
Dave needed a wheel chair for the airports, but now that we are here at the clinic, he is back to using his cane. I think he will start to ween himself off of that soon.
I am still having technical difficulties w/ our laptop, and the wireless connection, (also the charger & converter!) so for now I am using the common computer here at the clinic. (in other words, I do not have all my contacts listed here, so please forward this to the people you know, that I may have left off the list.)
The clinic is very quaint, just like something you would see in the film "The Sound of Music" The staff are all VERY friendly, apologize for their lack of English (which is VERY VERY VERY good!) and are quite caring and helpful.
Dave has started today on iv's of Vitamin C, Selinium, and 2 homeopathic chemo therapies. They give these to him in the room. The room could be described as a hotel room, except the floor is linoleum instead of carpet. Other than that it is quite nice. It is large enough for all 3 twin beds (one is a regular hospital bed,) a small coffee table w/ 2 lounge chairs, a desk and chair (for Alex's school work!) and a chest with a small TV & DVD player on it. The bathroom is beautiful tile from floor to ceiling on all 4 walls, with 2 sinks and a tub/ shower combo - very nice.
The funniest thing I have found, is the keyboard at this computer!! It has some of the letters and symbols in the wrong places, but they do not work the way it shows! It works just like a standard keyboard. (a little confusing when you look for the "Y" where it should be on the keyboard, but there is a "Z" there! So I find the "Y", over where the Z should be, but when I press the "Y" I get a Z. It took me about an hour to figure out where the @ was! That is because if you "look" for it, it is on the same key as the Q. And if you "look" at the symbol on top of the number 2 key, it is this: " BUT.... to get a @ you still press shift and 2. and to get a " you press some other funny key that I just found on accident!! I don't know if I am explaining it correctly, or if you guy's get it, but I feel like I am on candid camera!!
Oh well, Alex is chompin at the bit to get on the computer and play "runescape" so I will sign off for now.
Check out the website AVRP made for Dave! www.cheeringdaveon.blogspot.com You can add your own comments, and when I leard how to read German, I will try to add mine too! (The directions are all written in German over here!!)
Love to you all -
Randi, Dave & Alex
Gutten Tag!
Lieber Herrn Dave:
Wie gehts it innen?, wir wollen du zu sehr gesunt sind
Hast du ski-fahren gegangen?, Wir gehen nach Tahoe in zwei wochen.
Ist dein Platz shoenich?, hoffenlich sehr viel Schnee
Ich kant nicht glaube vie viel die Deuche Sprache ich habe vergessen...schreiben is nicht moeglich fuhr mich.
David, wir sindt sehr froelich Du bist in einer schoener Platz, und will fuhr Dich nicht zu krankenheit zu habben.
Unser Lieber fuhr Dich, Randi und Alex
Auf Wieder Sehen von San Diego,
Eduardo
Wie gehts it innen?, wir wollen du zu sehr gesunt sind
Hast du ski-fahren gegangen?, Wir gehen nach Tahoe in zwei wochen.
Ist dein Platz shoenich?, hoffenlich sehr viel Schnee
Ich kant nicht glaube vie viel die Deuche Sprache ich habe vergessen...schreiben is nicht moeglich fuhr mich.
David, wir sindt sehr froelich Du bist in einer schoener Platz, und will fuhr Dich nicht zu krankenheit zu habben.
Unser Lieber fuhr Dich, Randi und Alex
Auf Wieder Sehen von San Diego,
Eduardo
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Fifth Day of Christmas
On the fifth day of ChristmasMy true love gave to me…
Five Dubious Super Heroes….
Saturday, December 15, 2007
4th Day of Christmas
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me…
Four grouchy birds….
My true love gave to me…
Four grouchy birds….
(Double click on the photo to make it bigger, then click on "back" to get back to the blog.)
Friday, December 14, 2007
AVRP Holiday Lunch
Today we shut down the office early and headed a few blocks into Little Italy to Fillipi's Restaurant for pizza, beer, Sangria, Dubious Distinction Awards, and dessert. I'm not sure if people became more photogenic after having some beer or if this photographer got inspired by the Sangria, but we all had a real good time.
3rd Day of Christmas
On the third day of Christmas
My true love gave to me…
A blast from the past….
Have a safe trip, we’ll keep the pictures coming.
My true love gave to me…
A blast from the past….
Have a safe trip, we’ll keep the pictures coming.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
The 2nd Day of Christmas
On the second day of Christmas
My true love gave to me…
A delivery from N.Y.C
My true love gave to me…
A delivery from N.Y.C
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
The Twelve Days of Christmas - AVRP Style
The AVRP and ex-AVRP Friends and Family have gotten together to send the Stellar's a Very Merry Christmas Card. Since we won't be able to go caroling to your house this year we decided to do it through the satellites in the sky.We've received the Days of Christmas from all over the States and here is the first one, I hope you enjoy them.
Happy Holidays from all of us...
On the first day of Christmas
My true love gave to me...
A FAT BASTARD IN HAWAII!!!
Elsa.
Cheering Dave On
This is a team blog for the co-workers, friends, and family of Dave to demonstrate beyond a doubt what geeks, nerds, and dorks we are while Dave is off to Europe or where ever playing golf with oncologists. Whatever Dave!
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