Mt. Whitney!!!

We climbed Mt Whitney! Below is a great video made by two of our fellow brave hikers :)

http://thecougarpress.org/category/features/

A Life Well Lived

We lost an amazing person last week.  We are all so very sad and miss him deeply, but are thankful to have been lucky enough to share this life with him.

Funeral information:
Obituary - Terry Ball, June 7, 2018

Below is a slideshow of his life.
A Life Well Lived

The Annual Christmas Letter is done...read if you are really bored

2017 … Year of the Fire Rooster

See, you learned something right away by reading this!  It’s time again to write awkward Christmas letters and share what details of our life were NOT on some form of social media.  Because we are GenXers, that is (thankfully) quite a lot.

·         Officially decided we will REALLY leave California…eventually

·         Todd continues to embrace “extreme hiking.”  He’s managed to enchant Allison with it.  The rest of us have somehow been able to resist the allure of 10+ mile hikes in blazing heat where participants occasionally get lost, meet bears, or fall into a cactus …

·         Kelly has managed to work even more swim meets, almost making minimum wage some days!

·         Julia has started her pre-nursing curriculum at CSU-Long Beach and can’t wait to start doing “nursey” stuff.

·         Allison has decided to possibly pursue a degree that will lead to a career in the FBI.  The truth is out there…

·         Amanda changed majors to Forestry with a Wildlife Biology Concentration.  It means she’s outside more now.  On purpose.

·         Proving that Catholics can handle anything, Matthew entered his second year at Saint Mary Magdalen Catholic School.

Amanda – College Junior (California Polytechnic University – San Luis Obispo)

Adopted/rescued a tarantula.  Named her Edna.  She now “protects” our garage because tarantulas are apparently not allowed on campus.    

Still afraid to drive on California highways.  Luckily, with her lack of geography skills, she can rarely find them.

Has been safe around dumpsters, but proved to be a menace to a motionless decorative rock protecting cable equipment in our front yard.

Has embraced the sport of axe throwing with the Cal Poly logging team. 

Proud to be able to handle a chainsaw.  We don’t know if it was actually running or if that meant she could just pick it up…

 

Julia – College Freshman (California State University – Long Beach)   

Learned you can freak out “creepers” (what GenXers would call a stalker) by convincing them you are in a satanic cult.

Watches Fail Army videos and dreams of the day she will be the nurse at the hospital ready to treat these fools...

Spends an amazing amount of time staring at videos of things she is allergic to (mainly cats & dogs). 

Exclaimed in shock one day after Statistics class, “OMG, someone asked ME for math help!”

Was terrorized by a bear in Mammoth.  And, by “terrorized” we mean “scared and cowering like a tiny giraffe hiding in a Winnebago.” 

 

Allison – High School Junior  (Princess Grumpy Pants)

Successfully flew a plane before she could legally drive a car. 

Electrical boxes and garbage cans cower in fear when she hits the road.

Climbed Mt. Whitney with Todd and several other completely insane people. 

Was not at all devastated to learn she can never eat pineapple or hummus.

Because falling down is so “pre-mid-2010s,” Allison’s switched up her annual injury this year to a stress fracture.  And she got Scarlet Fever.

 

Matthew – Catholic Middle School 7^th Grader (self-described “lovable brat”)

Has achieved his dream of becoming a “one-sport man” by dropping karate and doing only swimming.

Survived on a diet of only French fries during our trip to Europe.

Has decided to become a “gluten-rights” activist. 

After realizing girls his age mature a bit faster, he dejectedly uttered, “I am so under-done!”

“Complaints”:  The name of the fragrance that Matthew would inspire.

 

Bucky – age 10 ½ - “Bumpasaurus”

His ratio of “chocolate” hair to gray hair is nearly equal.

Has added all the shrubberies in the front yard that MAY contain critters to his list of “works of Satan.”

Has added any critters found in front yard shrubberies to his list of “foods that must be tried.”

Has added “possums in yard at 3am” and “people wearing suits/carrying religious pamphlets“ to his list of “things that must be barked at.”

Can be equally startled by the doorbell ringing, any cat, food hitting him in the face, or accidentally walking into the refrigerator door.

When you throw him a ball in our backyard, sometimes he will bring back an avocado instead.

 

Have a wonderful holiday season and a safe and happy 2018!

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

Family picture project

So, I finally got around to scanning pictures that my mom had.  I have mailed some, but I did still have a lot that were not in the best shape that I thought would be better shared if I scanned them and then made copies.  I guess it only took me about 16 months, but in my defense I do have 4 kids and was working a lot of weekends and doing probate (that combination alone should have rendered me unconscious most days!)

The below link will take you to the photos I have of my mom's family.  Some go back to the early 1900s, but most are from the 1920's-1960's.  Here are a few examples(my grandmother when she did shows in the 1920s, a portrait of her that I assume is from the 1930's/1940's, my mom in 1962, my grandma with my mom, aunt and uncle circa 1949, and another from around that same time of just my mom, aunt and uncle as kids). 

https://www.snapfish.com/photo-gift/share?via=link&token=LbtdNJsYDsMViIUXZBeg-A/AUS/27946838117070/SNAPFISH


And here is a link to more pics (1970s-1980s):

https://www.snapfish.com/photo-gift/share?via=link&token=LbtdNJsYDsMViIUXZBeg-A/AUS/27946840617070/SNAPFISH

2016 ....The year that could not be over fast enough...

Happy December 2016!  It’s time again to discuss some of the lighter moments of our year and share some news that is not super important but could be fun to learn if you are really bored or find us interesting for some reason.

·         Officially decided we will leave California…in a few years

·         Todd has embraced “extreme hiking.”  It’s walking fast up and down steep hills for 10-20 miles ... in one day.  Not as punishment. 

·         Kelly perfected a technique of hitting deer and not leaving a mark on the car (the savings will be used on Matthew’s resulting PTSD).

·         After working for a year at a Veterinary clinic, Julia has decided she wants to go to college to learn to be a nurse for humans.   

·         Allison reduced her activities to just cross country.  And track.  And hiking.  And falling down a lot.  And soon driving.  

·         Amanda is maybe changing majors to Forestry and Natural Resources with a Wildlife Biology Concentration.  Stay tuned…

·         In an effort to test the resilience of Catholics worldwide, Matthew now attends Saint Mary Magdalen Catholic School.

 

Amanda – College Sophomore (California Polytechnic University – San Luis Obispo)

Babysat a corn snake and found her spirit animal…and discovered that dad REALLY hates snakes.  Really really really hates them…so much.

Thinks it’s fun to run around a desert chasing reptiles …. and meet the friendly men and women of the US border patrol.

Managed to get placed in a dorm apartment with the only service cat on the campus.  Yes, you read that right, SERVICE CAT.  “Misty” J

Visited New Mexico.  She is the only one in the family who has been to New Mexico.  We are all jealous.

Receives frequent invites to dinner parties describing her as a “retired woman of means” that has us both concerned and intrigued.

 

Julia – High School Senior (Nurse “Hoolia” to her cat/dog/turtle/bird/bunny/guinea pig/snake/lizard patients)

After seeing numerous retirement communities promoting an “active retired lifestyle,” she decided a fortune could be made promoting a community for those looking for an INACTIVE lifestyle.   Could be combined with a Costco membership.  So many possibilities…

Literally the only kid in her classes without an iPhone.  They did a survey.  It was sad.

Believes that math can only be fun when taught by teachers with lightsabers.  Otherwise, it is a form of torture that should be banned.

Her alias/pseudonym is… “Judith Puddles.”

Will have 3 dogs when she is a successful adult: “Orc” the bulldog, “Phillip Steve” (a “derpy” dog), and “Mac” (a fluffy dog).              

 

Allison – High School Sophomore  (Princess Grumpy Pants)

Leaves iPhone sale ads strategically lying around (taped on steering wheel, as a bookmark, on pillows) as a subtle hint that she wants one.   

Has just started Driver’s Ed.  Be afraid.  Be very afraid.

Successfully didn’t injure herself in sports this year. Instead, she has started to fall getting out of the car when dropped off at school.

Would win any competitive sickness/injury/malady competition.    

Lives by the motto: “Life is short and running makes it seem longer.”

 

Matthew – Catholic Middle School 6^th Grader

Decided swimming was okay again … unless you make him do anything other than breaststroke.

Still cannot be convinced to eat a vegetable without almost executive-branch level kinds of negotiations

Learned that if you fall, bite through your lip, and require 20 stitches at the ER that it will get Julia out of bed before 9am on a Sunday.

Learned that when mom drives through Ashippen, Wisconsin deer are going to die.

Likes to conclude prayers with “The End.” 

 

Bucky – age 9 ½ - “Bumpasaurus”

Has embraced his “grumpy old man” dog status by occasionally gassing people out of a room.

Did absolutely nothing when a raccoon loudly knocked over and tried to drag away his dog food container outside.

Has added “any items reachable in the open garbage can” to his list of “foods that MUST be tried.”

Sneaks out when he can…and we only notice he’s missing when we leave and see a dog sitting in the front yard tilting his head in confusion. 

Enjoys drinking plant water.  As in water that has collected in a pot.  He has water in his bowl.  This is apparently not good eough…

 

Have a wonderful holiday season and a safe and happy 2017!

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

Memories of mom

I wanted to add the video that I created for my mom's funeral. I meant to do it quite awhile ago, but life happens and plans get sidetracked.  But, here it is. 

 

My next project will be to try and digitize some of the pictures from old photo albums to share. 

 

I'd like to think she'd have enjoyed seeing this video.  I think she could have had a much, much longer one had she made different choices in her life.  She wasn't always angry and bitter, but it seemed like that to those who didn't get the rare glimpses of her when she was just being herself.  I always wondered why she couldn't just be like that all the time.  She probably did, too. 

Sad news...

My mom passed away on June 27, 2016.  It seems odd to type that.  Below is her obituary. 

 

Mary Ellen Ball, 69, of Cave Creek, Arizona, passed away unexpectedly June 27th, 2016 at her home after a sudden illness.

Mary was born July 29th, 1946 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  She was a 1964 graduate of Holy Angels Academy.  In 1967, she married and over the next eleven years spent time in Colorado, California, and West Virginia before finally settling in Brookfield, Wisconsin in 1978.   She was the original “soccer mom,” running kids around to soccer, basketball, and softball games in a vintage 80’s station wagon.  Every summer, she grew vegetables in an extensive backyard garden and was especially successful with zucchini that she made into delicious bread.   After raising her kids as a stay-at-home mom, she returned to school to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Mount Mary College and spent several years teaching special-needs children.  She held many other jobs, but teaching was her true passion.  She loved animals and spending time with her family, friends, and especially her grandchildren.  She was an intelligent and strong-willed woman who we will remember for the happy times we shared with her.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Kathryn and Edward Hulick, and sister, Catherine Kettering. 

Mary is survived by three children:   Kelly (Todd) Linskey of Camarillo, CA; Kevin Ball of Pewaukee, WI; and Brian (Tarra) Ball of Germantown WI.   She is also survived by her seven beloved grandchildren:  Amanda, Julia, Allison, Matthew, Chase, Ella, and Alaina; brother, Tom (Mary) Hulick of Castleton on Hudson, NY; sister, Anne (Jack) Ross of Cave Creek, AZ and Cheyenne, WY; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends.

A memorial gathering will be held at the Funeral Home on Friday, July 22nd, 2016 from 11 AM until the time of memorial service at 1 PM.  Interment will follow the service at Calvary Cemetery, 5503 West Blue Mound Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53208. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s name may be made to her favorite charitable organizations:  Catholic Charities (catholiccharitiesusa.org ),  the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (www.hdsawi.org), and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (www.alzfdn.org ).

2015 … Brought to you by The Linskeys

·         Entering the 4^th year of a drought, we decided to remove some of our grass to conserve water.  Because of this, we are now expecting the strongest El Nino in recorded history. 

·         Todd started his new career as a Delta Air Lines pilot.  It’s like the military, but with flight attendants. 

·         Kelly found new and mostly not-exciting ways to work and not get paid.

·         Julia got her driver’s license.  So far, she has not sideswiped any dumpsters.

·         Allison decided to do cross country.  And basketball.  And track.  And band.  And maybe swimming.

·         Amanda graduated from high school and is now a full-fledged college student.  We know this because she sleeps past 8am.

·         Matthew finally got to see the Blue Angels.

Amanda - Freshman

Has learned that you can stay up until 2 am every day at college.  We’re waiting for her to learn that this is not a good idea.

Thinks dissecting anything is really cool.  (Don’t worry – it’s part of the curriculum – she’s not a serial killer or anything)

She and her roommates discovered they can easily entice weak-willed young men into letting them dress them up as women.

Still a huge Pokémon nerd. 

Julia – Junior

Is the only living teenager who had a driving instructor actually call her “grandma” when referring to her inability to accelerate.

Likes to make “Vroom, vroom!” sounds when driving.

Is trying to figure out how many AP classes she can take and still have time to get in her 12+ hours of sleep. 

Surrounds herself with half-filled containers of water, possibly in anticipation of a “Signs”-like invasion where only water will save us.

Allison – Freshman

Survived yet another year of not eating any fruit. 

May be the only kid in high school without an iPhone.  Except for her sister.

Had to demonstrate to kids in her class how to use a flip phone to text. 

Only had to use crutches once this year.  So far. 

Matthew – 6^th grade

Matthew is in middle school.  We’re not sure how this happened.

After years of begging, he FINALLY got a phone.  And almost never uses it. 

Is learning karate, but still hates to do any kind of exercise (his version of push-ups is banned by most gyms).

Has actually decided that Scrabble is sort of fun, especially if he accidentally misspells a word that is actually a word.

Bucky – age 8 ½ - “Bumpasaurus”

Has started to announce the arrival of any vehicle parking within 100 feet of our driveway by howling.

Has added all green vegetables to his list of “works of Satan.”

Likes to sleep on any plant in the garden that has any chance of successfully producing a vegetable (possibly related to the above fact).

Has added air mattress inflators and storage containers to his list of “things that must be barked at.” 

Have a wonderful holiday season and a safe and happy 2016!

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