Patrick Luadzers

I just wanted to let everyone know that Pat left for Iraq yesterday. He will be stationed in Tikrit and is a Multiple Launch Rocket Systems Specialist. He will be stationed at Camp Speicher. I got to go spend a few days with him after Casey and Marie's party and we had a wonderful time. I am attaching a few pictures of Pat in his uniform ~ hope you enjoy. You all take care and keep Pat in your prayers. He will be there for a year.

I also have a couple of pictures from the reception for Marie and Casey. I added those, too.

Love ya all, Sally and Randy

Greetings from Arizona

As of 1 p.m. today in Las Vegas, Casey and Marie are getting hitched. They decided to get married in Vegas with no family since Marie's parents are in Germany. We are very happy for them. She is really a nice young lady and we like her very much. She heads back to Germany around the 5th of April. Casey goes back to Germany on May 18th for a teaching job. After that, I don't think the plans have been made.

Saturday, we are having a small reception for them at our house here in Buckeye. Mom, Skip, and Sally are coming down. Kevin, Andra, & Kendall will be out here as well plus some old friends of ours here in the Phoenix area. That's all the news from this area. Love to all, Carolyn Lee

Mom & Andrew update

OK, here I am again. I had to call Jed to find out how to sign in.
Update on Mom & Andrew. First, Andrew. He is still at the VA and is in the SR. ward. He is up walking a bit. He likes the food, and knows me and his daughter Debbie, but still calls Mom his mother. Go figure. He called Mom last night wanting out of the place because the "people" are mean to him. They have him schedule to move into a nursing home after Labor Day. He needs at least 2 full time people to take care of him. Mom cannot do it alone.

Now for Mom. I took her to her surgeon on Friday. He was amazed and said because of her age, 77, he figured she would take at the bare minimum of 3 months to get back on her feet. She is up and walking with a cane and is looking forward to driving again in two weeks. She has a titanium hip and is showing everyone the picture that they give you to pass through the airport. She is quite pleased with that. She still scares me going up the stairs to her closet; but she promised she would not do it unless someone was there... so we will see.

It is still hot in AZ. 108 today. The rainy season has not been much at our place, but overall Phx is up 3.55 inches for this year alone which is good.

Casey is back from Germany and is in Tucson. Jed and Tracey are in Flagstaff and I know you probably already know BUT I am going to be a GRANNY!!! I am so excited!!

That's the news from AZ. Now that I know my password again, I will try to post more often..Auntie Carol :) Love to you all, Carolyn Lee

Quick news

Hi all - We just wanted to post a quick little note about a change in our situation. We have decided to move back to Flagstaff, in northern Arizona. Actually - it was decided some time back - but we are only now sending the word along. We are moving on July 26th. I think most of you have my email - and that's the best way to contact me, as my phone number will likely change soon. My mom (Carolyn) will also have the contact info

So, if you're in the neighborhood, stop in and say hullo.

Jed and Tracey Hayes

Exciting News

Hello all,

I just wanted to post a quick note about some very exciting news. Soon, (roughly 6 months or so from now) there will be a new little Hayes in the world. In case that's too cryptic, Tracey is pregnant with our first child! I will post more as we learn more.

Love to everyone,

Jed and Tracey Hayes

Greetings from HOT-HOT-HOT Arizona

With the help of my younger son, he got me signed up. Whenever I tried, Google did not like it. I am Technologically Challenged. I hope everyone is well.

Marc and I just returned from a week long trail ride in NM around Quemado Lake. It was really beautiful and cool there. No cell phones worked! It was wonderful to get away from that and just relax.

I have a busy week with 4 auctions and have to spend the night Thursday night in Las Vegas, NV. Then, Sunday we are going to Tucson to help Jed celebrate his birthday. On Monday, I catch a flight to NM to spend time with Mom (Billie) and Sally (my sister). I can't wait.

I spoke to Casey this morning, all is well in Germany and he will be coming back to the States on August 3. I am excited that he is coming home, it has been a long year without him here.

I have sent the invitation out to a number of relatives that were not on the list, i.e. Kevin Alexander (Leon's son), Skip and Mel (again), so hopefully they will contribute as well. I love reading all of the posts from everyone. Until next time, Carolyn Lee

From Leipzig

Hello all,

I am glad that Auntie Carol shamed a few of us into writing more in the blog...good stuff. I am currently enjoying the nice weather in Leipzig and sweating the fact that I fly back to the states in about 43 days. Mixed feelings all around. I am definitely excited about seeing my friends, family and homeland, and the prospect of eating some REAL mexican food make me just about explode with excitement, but I have to leave someone special behind. Maybe just temporarily, but who knows.

Nothing new to report and no new pictures. Keep the posts coming. I am off to the Bierbörse tonight - sort of like a beer festival. It is taking place at the monument for the Battle of Nations which was fought here in 1813. On the winning side..Germany, Austria, etc., on the losing side France (Napoleon) and Saxony, which is where Leipzig is located. SO...we have a monument commemorating the winning of a battle located in a land that was one of the losers. I feel that it is a little humorous. At any rate, the monument was erected in 1913 and represents a typical Imperial German style and sensibility. Yeah.

Have a great weekend!

Casey

THE TUCSON BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE

Greetings from temperate (yeah, right) Tucson. Here's my update:

I live here in Tucson with my wife Tracey and our dog Gracie. I am very fond of both of them and I hope they echo such sentiments.

I'll go way back for those of you who may not know of my past few years. I got my MFA in Playwriting from UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television (Francis Ford Coppola's alma mater) in 2004. I write as much as I can - but there are not, as it turns out, too many job options for us playwrights. Following our move to Tucson in 2005, I taught high school Drama and English for one year before going back to school. In 2007, I received my Master's degree in Education (with distinction, I might add) from Northern Arizona University's Tucson Campus and have been teaching Middle School Drama, English and Humanities. I also tutor several students from various grades (K-12) in Reading and Writing.

I am currently working on 3 new plays at one time - some times the Muses really smash me down. My future goals (aside from finishing these) are to start a youth theater, and a community educational outreach program. Hopefully I can accomplish these things in the next couple of years.

My wife Tracey just completed her Master's in Education in Counseling (also with distinction) also from NAU. She works for NAU in student services, and plans to continue on for a multi-disciplinary PhD in physiology and psychology (among other things).

Our wonderful dog Gracie spend many laborious hours perfecting her snoring techniques and generally loving us unabashedly. She enjoys walks, stealing our recliners, waking us up early, and being a very spoiled only-child.

I'm not sure really what else to add. One can never tell exactly what the future holds. Perhaps we will chuck it all and move to French Polynesia. If so, you're all welcome at our Tahitian hut.

Good wishes,

Jed, Tracey and Gracie Hayes

Hello from Germany

Hello Alexander-Jordan Clan. I certainly hope everyone is having a nice spring. In Leipzig the sun is not so sure if she (feminine in German) wants to come out yet. We'll have one nice day of weather and then rain/snow or whatever. Make me wonder if Global Warming really exists (he he). Anyway, I am finishing up my second PhD year here in Leipzig and am probably going to continue back in Tucson in August. I am having one of those Graduate School.."what the hell am I doing all this for" phases. Oh, well...this too shall pass. Along with what I am doing for the Uni, I am working on a side project developing tests for business English. So far I have been developing scripts for listening comprehension tests and writing instructions for the writing portion of the exams. All that along with the occasional translation project. All in all, I have enough to keep me busy.

German Winters are pretty depressing, and this one was particularly hard on me. Being from the desert and seeing the sun almost 300 days a year has that effect on me. Things are turning around, however, and I look forward to rinding my bicycle to the lake and possibly getting some sun....who knows.

I have a blog of my own on Blogger called "Ruminations of a Desert Rat," unfortunately I haven't updated it since October. I have no real excuse for it, I just find it hard to blog. I guess that is why I have never kept a journal.

(By the way the picture is me in Prague...neat town)

Anyway, enjoy the spring and hope to read something from you all soon.

til then

Casey