2024 - Even though it seemed like it took 10 years, the year is finally over!

 

Season’s Greetings!!

Yep, we’re still in California.  Todd is still flying for Delta. Kelly is still working swim meets and volunteering at the animal shelter.  Amanda is crashing with her sisters at their new place in Olympia, Washington while looking for her next Zoo job.  Julia is working as a cardiac care nurse in Puyallup.  Allison is working in a microbiology lab in Olympia. Matthew is continuing his college career at CSU Fullerton.  In what has now become a decennial occurrence, we were forced to tent our house to remove the termites that had taken advantage of a (finally) empty nest. We took a few trips and hiked a few mountains.  We also started chopping down trees and ripping stuff apart in the house (started, but did not yet finish).  Here are some “special memories” from the year.

 

Amanda –Zookeeper in search of a Zoo

Admitted that she thought space heaters had to do with outer space.

“It’s not Christmas if Amanda hasn’t puked.” (Allison)

BUTT-chered – How a butcher prepares meat for consumption (aka “butchered”).

Temporary handler of Monty, a sassy orange cat.

 

 

Julia – Registered Nurse

Adopted a little orange cat named Monty.  He is no longer little, except for his head.

Responded to a text with, “Shhhhhh, we’re reading the cat’s tarot cards.” 

Asked if the musician “Kenny G” was a rapper. 

Successfully drove a U-haul from CA to WA.  Only got honked at once.  Allegedly.

 

 

 

Allison – Microbiology scientist

Allison wanted to move to Colorado or Washington.  Julia wanted to move to Oregon or Washington.  They compromised and moved to Washington.  Allegedly.    

Is frequently awoken at 4:30am by a cat throat-punching her because he wants to be fed.

Used my Amazon Prime Account to watch the following movies (“with my sisters”):

Mama Mia!, It, Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses, The Conjuring, and Scooby-Doo.

 

 

Matthew – College Sophomore, CSU-Fullerton

Has grown a beard. Or, he simply chose to stop shaving.

Matthew started texting us puns one night.  We thought he was having a stroke.

Sockpants – Matthew’s word for what most people call “pantyhose.”

The only member of the family truly proficient with “sock chucks,’ the ancient art of sock twirling.

Trip to the Channel Islands 

Rafting the Tuolumne River

    Making new friends at Great Barrier Reef 

    Monty, guarding his feeder

   Pacific Northwest Linskeys    

  
    Take that, Britney! (Amanda and "Pickle")

2023 - Trial Run at Empty Nesting

 

Season’s Greetings!!

 

Todd is still flying for Delta and volunteering at “second work” – Gold Coast Vets. Kelly is still working swim meets and volunteering with the “dog squad” at the local animal shelter.  Amanda is interning at the Cincinnati Zoo and about to start a new internship at the Kentucky Reptile Zoo.  Julia is working as a cardiac care nurse and living in Long Beach.  Allison, also living in Long Beach, graduated from college and is working for California Fish & Wildlife in Seal Beach. Matthew graduated from high school and started his college career at CSU Fullerton.  We did some epic hikes, Kelly FINALLY made it to New Mexico, we visited Italy, and for the first time in 26 years we have a mostly quiet house.  It’s very weird, and a lot cleaner.  As always, here are a few “special memories” from the year.

 

Amanda – Graduated (again) from EATM, interning at Cincinnati Zoo, next up … Kentucky Reptile Zoo

Amanda just realized this year that “Amish” is more than just wanting to live an “old-time lifestyle.”

If there were a show called Kitchen Cooking Disasters, Amanda would be the star. 

Was tasked with buying a Mother’s Day card.  Instead purchased a lovely condolence card.  She had ONE JOB!

Julia – Registered Nurse @ Long Beach Memorial, Cardiac Monitor Unit

It’s not unusual that Julia thought our investment guy was … TOM JONES.

Julia’s deep thoughts: Do cows have friends? Are cows smart? What flavor is Dr Pepper?

Is still having nightmares that she is late for school. 

Has trouble differentiating between earthquakes and the upstairs neighbors. 

 

Allison – Scientific Aid, California Department of Fish & Wildlife

Graduated from CSU Long Beach with ZERO pictures. 

Admitted that she’s never really cared that there is a difference between nails and screws. 

Has the nightmares of a 93-year-old (i.e. being double-billed for insurance co-pays).

Snorkels in 2 feet of water.  It looks as weird as it sounds. 

Matthew – College Freshman, CSU-Fullerton

"I’ll be mouth crippled.” – Matthew on getting his wisdom teeth removed.

Decided that pantyhose should instead be referred to as “sock pants.”

Has decided to attempt the sport of fencing next semester.  (“The one with swords.”)

Happy Holidays – Happy New Year !

Todd, Kelly , Amanda, Julia, Allison, and Matthew  

   

"Live Slow, Die Old" and other memories from 2022

 Season’s Greetings!!

 

Todd is still flying for Delta and volunteering at “second work” – Gold Coast Vets. Kelly is still earning almost minimum wage running swim meets and started volunteering with the “dog squad” at the local animal shelter.  Amanda will earn her certificate in May and hopes to be working at a zoo by next Fall.  Julia is working as a nurse and living in Long Beach.  Allison will graduate from college in May, and Matthew will graduate from high school in June. We did some epic hikes, had some fun trips, and look forward to more adventures in 2023.  As always, here are a few “special memories” from the year.

 

 

 

Amanda – Second-year student, EATM (Exotic Animal Training and Management) @ Moorpark College

Named a wayward orb weaver spider in her room “Tim” and told nobody.

Made a calculated decision to add Hot Pockets to her dining repertoire. 

Has been known to sprinkle cheese on …. cheese.

Calls every night to ask if we need anything, then refuses to stop and get anything if we say yes.

Wears swimming goggles to cut up onions, simultaneously discovering an alternative market for Speedo.

(Amanda’s pictures are with Eleanor, the Vietnamese potbellied pig, and with Julia drinking fancy martinis!)

 

Julia – Registered Nurse @ Long Beach Memorial, Cardiac Care Unit

Julia and Amber thought that “Tim” (the wayward orb weaver spider) was a scorpion and reacted accordingly.

Adopted a cat named “Mr. Chips.” Fun fact:  Julia is allergic to cats.

Coined the term “donklings” … which is either baby donkeys OR elementary school students.

Frequently confuses Carl Sagan and George Carlin.

Thought the local “Ray Miller” hiking trail was called the “Ray Charles” hiking trail. 

(Julia’s pictures are of her with Allison and Amanda, her favorite sisters!)

 

Allison – College Senior (California State University Long Beach – Organismal Biology)

Can adeptly measure foot size using crayfish (similar to Julia once calculating a person’s weight in squirrels).

Spent the summer trying to get bit by rattlesnakes. She did not succeed.

After years of trying, Allison succeeded in getting an injury that may require surgery:  She partially tore her ACL.  Her appointment to assess the damage is this week…

Got a pet fish and named him Winston.  Winston is now the favorite program intensely watched by Mr. Chips. 

(Allison’s pictures are from her glamorous summer job and with her roommate, Julia)

 

Matthew – High School Senior (St Bonaventure High School)

Decided “juvie” should instead be called “young jail.”

Is a self-described expert at critiquing the cleanliness of a transit bus.

Loves his sisters.  Conversation example: 

Allison: “Matthew, I’m getting old.” 

Matthew: “Haha, good.  Die first.”

If you are what you eat, Matthew would be a potato.

(Matthew’s pictures are from swimming the 500 free at the CIF championship meet and an old favorite picture with Bucky)

 

Bucky – Bucky did give us a few special memories before crossing the rainbow bridge in August…

Bucky’s favorite elder activity:  Pretending to be a decorative rock.

For no logical reason, Bucky started to drink water like a pelican (dunking his whole head in his bowl).

Bucky’s life motto:  Live slow, die old.

 

Happy Holidays – Happy New Year !!

 

Todd, Kelly , Amanda, Julia, Allison, and Matthew 

2021 - "At least it was not 2020"

So, we got the vaccine, the kids (sort of) went back to school, and everytime we had a "huge party" we ended up with new variants and outbreaks.  Still, we managed to get through the year.  We are hoping the chip shortages end (along with all the other shortages) and are hoping next year we don't get backcountry permits cancelled again by wildfires.  Or earthquakes.  Or new variants.  

Let's just hope we get through the year!

Amanda – First-year student, EATM (Exotic Animal Training and Management) @ Moorpark College

She cleans the animals’ rooms more often than her own.

Learned the only thing worse than working in customer service during a pandemic is trying to buy a car during a pandemic.

Asked Todd, “Remember when we lived in New York and kept peasants in the freezer.”  

Is a self-proclaimed pretzel slut.

 

Julia –2021 Graduate - BSN (California State University - Long Beach), licensed RN

Graduated from ANGEL STADIUM and passed her nursing exams to become NURSE JULIA!!!

Ask her to sing HER VERSION of the song “Down Under” by Men at Work.

Still requires a crossing guard to keep her alive.

Quote:  “I wish we had juice, but all we have is alcohol.” 

 

Allison – College Junior (California State University Long Beach - Marine Biology)

Missed her doctors so much that she recently started rock climbing.

Is easily startled by bubble wrap.

Transferred to Long Beach to (yet again) copy her older sister.

Sometimes acts as a Long Beach crossing guard for her sister.

Discovered Matthew lacks self-preservation on their ill-fated 2-hour Joshua Tree camping trip.

 

Matthew – High School Junior (St Bonaventure High School)

Will text the phrase “Sad Matthew Noises” if you send him a text he does not appreciate or approve of.

In a bold culinary move, Matthew announced that after 17 years he has decided that he like eggs.

Did not listen to his sister Allison at Joshua Tree when she said, “Hey, maybe don’t jump off that rock.”

Was diagnosed with a non-fatal “boo-boo” by nurse Julia who bandaged the resulting “grievous injury.”

 

Bucky – age 14 ½ - Elder Dog, Answers to any name if you have food, “Wow! He’s still alive?”

Were shocked to learn Bucky had a biological reason for his excessive laziness (his thyroid quit working!)

The entire floor of the kitchen is the new number one item on his list of “Foods that must be tried.”

In his old age, we discovered he can only successfully enter a car butt first.

Has added his empty food bowl, any closed door, and boxes at the door to his list of “Things that must be barked at.” 

Happy Holidays – Happy New Year !

Todd, Kelly, Amanda, Julia, Allison, Matthew, and Bucky

2020 - The year we all became Vegas

 

(Everybody’s losing money, it’s acceptable to drink anytime, we’re rarely appropriately dressed, and nobody has any idea what day it is)

 

·         Amanda graduated …and we celebrated with a nice yard sign (that’s the same, right?)

·         Julia got to live the college dream of drinking with her parents on her 21^st birthday! 

·         Allison cannot appropriately express in words how thoroughly she is enjoying the academic splendor that is Zoom University.

·         Hiked almost enough to burn off the crazy caused by the pandemic.  Almost.

·         Matthew finally surpassed Julia and is now 2nd in the Linskey Family height competition (but he still won’t eat vegetables!)

Amanda – Cal Poly SLO 2020 Graduate (BS Forestry, Biology minor)

Before the forests were all on fire, they were closed because of Covid.  And then earthquakes.  So, nobody was hiring Forestry graduates. 

Forestry grads make excellent Vons grocery store deli clerks. 

“Like two children in the back of a minivan fighting over a bag of Cheetos.”  – Amanda’s review of the first Presidential debate

Working in the deli has inspired Amanda to apply to the renowned Exotic Animal and Training Management program at Moorpark College.

 

Julia – College Senior (CSU–Long Beach – Nursing)

Escaped the house to do zoom classes from an apartment in Long Beach and work at a smoothie shop.  She’s the most sane of us all now.

Learned that RuPaul is NOT a drag RACER. 

Admitted that she thought “Houston” was the guy astronauts called with their problems. 

“Leg elbow” – the phrase Julia uses when she forgets the easily forgotten technical term of “knee.”

“My entire childhood is summed up by the sound of a kickball hitting you on the side of the head.” -Julia’s comment on her graceful youth

 

Allison – College Sophomore (CSU Monterey Bay - Marine Science)   

Gets exhausted by taking naps.

Realized after 7 seasons of Letterkenny that it was based in Canada and NOT Ireland.

Might transfer schools, which still means classes in her fabulously appointed bedroom/potential Covid isolation room.

“Me: 0   Sesame: 2”  - Allison, after her second “incident” with her dietary archnemesis.  And, Kelly learned there is sesame in breadcrumbs.

 

Matthew – High School Sophomore (St. Bonaventure High School)

FINALLY got to take his drivers test…and passed with a better score than his sisters (and he reminds them every chance he gets).

“Matthew, if your toast isn’t darker than me then it’s not toast.” (Julia)

“I have to study the Holy Trilogy for my religion final.” – Matthew during spring final exams in his room

“Your honor, I disagree because that’s stupid.” – Allison impersonating Matthew if he were to become a lawyer

 

Bucky – age 13 ½ - “Wow, how old is your dog?”

Discovered he is a very jealous boy when he had to share the stage with a shunned and temporarily adopted cliff swallow named Reginald. 

Reginald was number one on his list of “foods that MUST be tried.”  He failed, but not for lack of trying.

“This dog has had more flavor in his lifetime than a Medieval English peasant.” (Julia)

Has added mechanical boxes and his own shadow to his list of “things that must be barked at.”

Has started wearing a light-up collar at night.  This is partly so he can be seen, and partly so he can fulfill his dream of being a disco dog.

We thankfully managed to get through 2020 with a few adventures, a lot of Netflix, sufficient toilet paper, and our sanity minimally intact.    Along with everyone else in the world (except maybe mask manufacturers and Zoom investors), we hope 2021 brings an effective vaccine, a return to school, something that resembles “normal,” and hopefully a HUGE party!  Happy New Year!  (It just has to be better than last year! )

 

 

 

 

 

Todd, Kelly, Amanda, Julia, Allison, Matthew and Bucky