COMPANY COMING! :) - - AND CONCERT

okay, for those of you "readers" - - here's my 2nd post. This is about upcoming company. Diane & Randy Weaver will be at our house this weekend (Randy has been kind enough to do lighting for our upcoming "HOME CONCERT WITH TIM MOYER". AND - - on Friday night, our good friend Jerry Wilcoxson will fly in from Peoria with his daughter Katelyn. We can't wait to see them again. In Peoria at the visitation it was really hard to have quality time with anyone. Just a short hello and how ya doin'. So we look forward to their visit. We've worked on Jerry for a long time to take a trip out here and he is really doing it. It's been a few years (other than Michelle's wedding) since he's been here - so it will be great to kick back and enjoy both Katelyn and Jerry. We thank Randy so very much for coming and doing the whole spotlight thing. He's been so very generous with his knowledge of "handyman stuff" and I mean ANYTHING! Because of him (and a very understanding patient wife - Diane), We have beautiful malibu lighting in our backyard, tile floor (yes, Steve and Randy did it), under the counter lighting in the kitchen, a covered backporch with fans to cool you and many many other things that Randy has done to make our house our little paradise. We really appreciate all his hard work - - but love both Diane and Randy like a brother or sister.

We're gearing up for our home concert for Tim Moyer. For those of you who know him, or don't. . . a wonderful person. He sang for Steve's 50th birthday party, sang for my mom's funeral, sang for Michelle's wedding, and now we want to do something for him. He has been invited to Amsterdam to open up for Venice (yes, the group that wrote Family Tree that we all know now after both Mrs. D's funeral and my mom's funeral). We first discovered Tim after going to a Venice concert and Tim opened up the show. Steve and I said, "Wow" - - and talked to him after the show. We have been friends ever since. Tim has graced us with his presence at the previously named events and Steve and I have tried to get to as many of his shows as we can. I worked on invitations last night and they are about ready to send out. The hope is to raise enough money to send Tim to Amsterdam so he can play with Venice. We have enough people who have praised his guitar work and his vocals, that we think we can get a crowd. We plan on charging $10.00 at the door. So -- hopefully Tim is GOING!

Last but not least (tired of reading yet?) Anna (our Icelandic daughter) will be arriving with her husband Helgi and Arnor (her son) in June. We can't wait to see them. Afterall, Arnor was my first Grandson (Anna reminds of us that!) I believe they will be here for a week or so. It will be great to see Helgi, since the only time we really got to meet him was on our trip to Iceland for Anna's wedding. Anna is so very good about keeping in touch and we truly love her as a daughter. We miss her and make telephone calls (as does she) to us to just try to stay in touch. We're very excited about their visit.

Okay - that's it for now. Take care!

Whew! Finally back home again.

Steve and I returned home from the cruise on Monday, just in time to do laundry, spend some quality time with our Ozzie (Goldendoodle), and get ready for work. The Blues Cruise was wonderful - good time spent with good friends. This year it was smaller than our usual BIG group. Michelle & Mark Roberts, Mary Ann and Lyle, Frank & Kathy Butch and Steve and I. Although it was a quaint group, we really enjoyed ourselves. Steve and I spent time taking pictures on formal night - - something in years past that was difficult with the "rocking ship" if you know what I mean! (TOO MUCH FUN on those past cruises). Of course they always plan formal night after the day in Ensenada. . . . and what else was there to do but go to Papa's and Beer? Well, this year we opted to simply relax in the sun on the ship, listening to the music provided by a Ragae band aboard. It was wonderful, and what great fun we had with good friends. We certainly want to give special mention to our "past" group cruisers, Randy & Diane Weaver, Molly & Jesse Mullens, Michelle Elrod, Anna Palmadottir(Iceland), Matt Dickerson, Jessica, Nick, Brandon and Lindsay Roberts, Sherman and Sharon Risius (Peoria, IL), Tony & Diane Romero, Jennifer Roberts and many more. (If I forgot any of our past crusin' buddies, I apologize).

I'm doing two posts tonight due to different subjects. Cruise was wonderful, I'm posting a few pictures. Take care - until next time. . . (a few minutes!)

On Friday evening we will have

Dickerson's FINALLY get pictures taken together!

Cruise picture

What a great Mother-in-Law - Who could ask for better?

Steve and Mrs. D with "some" of his sisters & brothers

From left to right - bottom to top: Mrs. Dickerson, and siblings Dee, Steve, Janie, Rosie, Geri, Pat, Jim & Danny.

Steve and his late father (George Dickerson)

Been awhile - but I'm back!

Well, we've been quite busy lately - but not in a good way.

I'm saddened to say that Steve's mom (my mom too!) passed away on Wed. March 18th. We immediately started plans to return to Peoria for her visitation and funeral. Steve had a bowling tournament the following Saturday in Laughlin, therefore, we planned the trip leaving from Las Vegas to Chicago to Peoria. After bowling, we went to bed and woke up at 2:00 a.m. to drive 1 1/2 hours to Vegas to catch a 6:20 flight. We arrived in Chicago and did the 3 1/2 hour drive to Peoria, where we were met by other family members and all stayed at the same hotel. Sunday night we met with other family members to discuss plans that were in place for the visitation and funeral. Monday a.m. we woke up and Steve and I did a walk through on a condo we are purchasing in Peoria as an investment. We both got ready and attended an overwhelming visitation. It was like a reunion of everyone we ever knew in Peoria (how touching!) I kept seeing faces thinking, "that person looks familiar" - - and it ends up it was someone from years back. There was a slide show put together by niece Colleen Kahl, beautiful flowers everywhere, pictures everywhere (I believe Janie, Steve's sister was a major contributor in this area). The line of good friends, relatives, and associates of Mrs. Dickerson did not stop for 4 hours. It was truly amazing. She was loved by many, that's for sure.

On Tuesday we all got up to attend her funeral. So very perfect for her and emotional. Even the deacon who presented the eulogy, was pausing to gain his composure. He, too was a good friend of Mrs. Dickerson's. Nieces did readings, and Dee (Steve's eldest sister) spoke last. It was a beautiful mass. A song by Venice (one of my favorite local groups) was played called "Family Tree". The first time I heard it, I thought it was so very fitting for the Dickerson family. They don't just have a tree - - they have a REDWOOD!!! Police escorts, Military Burial, and everything that Mrs. Dickerson would have loved. She deserved it - - ALL ! and will be missed. Tomorrow Steve and I take off on our annual Blues Cruise to Mexico. It's something we look forward to every year, however this year it's happening at a bad time. I think it will be good for Steve to be able to relax, it's been quite a stressful week. Well, wish this were happier, but it's my blog for this evening. Take care - - until next time!

ANNA & HELGI

NEXT BEST MAN WITH NEXT GROOM TO BE

THE NEXT WEDDING - JENNIE & CASEY

Steve's visiting "Bears Town" - - and Anna coming to town!

Hi All - - New Blog by Us:


Well, this will be a sad, lonely weekend for Teri. Steve will be visiting with his mom and family back in Chicago. He took off work tomorrow. Pat (his bro) will be joining him. So, Teri is HOME ALONE this weekend. But, sometimes that's a fun time to do chic-flicks - shopping and all the girlie stuff she doesn't normally do. So, Teri asked Brooke to join her in the "girlie stuff" and quite sure they'll have fun.

VISITORS TO CALIFORNIA:
We just finished with a nice visit from Brian Dickerson, who happened to be out here on business. It was great to see him and two of his co-workers. We just hung out and did a little barbecue. Weather was a little cold, but it didn't seem to bother those "cold weather people".
We have visitors coming to California - - starting with Jerry Wilcoxson (formally known by Steve as "Scumdog") who will be traveling with his daughter Katelyn. They arrive the last part of March. Jerry is a good friend of ours who Steve first met at Caterpillar. We can't wait to see them.

Anna, (our Icelandic daughter) has just announced that she will be coming with her family to see us. . . we're so excited. She is coming in June (the month that she and Steve share Birthdays) with her son Arnor & husband Helgi. We will probably have a get together for them. After all, Anna went to high school here and believe me - - has lots of friends!!! We will try to talk Helgi (pastry chef) into baking something here. We've had the wedding cake in Iceland and it was to die for! We can't wait to see our Dear Anna, her husband Helgi & our little Iceland Grandson Arnor! It will be Helgi's first visit to the US as well as Arnor's. So DISNEYLAND here we come!!! :)

WEDDING PLANS FOR CASEY, JENNIE - MATT & BROOKE:

Matt is currently on a Bachelor Party Weekend with Cousin Casey who will marry Jennie on April 14th. They are in Phoenix and attending the Cubs Training Camp games. (Great idea - we thought).

Brooke has been a very busy person planning "The next Dickerson Wedding". As usual, the groom is not too much involved. But Brooke is a very organized person and seems to know just what she wants - - therefore, we know the wedding will be beautiful . . and how can you go wrong in VEGAS BABY! (and. . by the way - - what happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas!)

If anyone needs a place to stay my Dad has offered up his house (KIDDING!!!) But he does have a wonderful house there. So moral to the story is: If you spend too much in Vegas - - knock on Dad's door in Vegas!


Well, that's what's new with us. Please e-mail your news or at least comment on our blogs! :)

Til next time!