sauseege Offline

sauseege: The new abode is just about done. Here's the Golden Gate Bridge canvas hung yesterday.

sauseege: For those who have asked, here is my new home.

Cherry_Blossom_: A BLESSED & BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS XO

LuvsOlderMen: Hi...it's Lauren

Cherry_Blossom_: lmao

Cherry_Blossom_: I found a cheap washer & dryer for you lmao

sauseege: In the winter of 1988 I was married, living in the suburbs of Chicago and unemployed. As I scoured the want ads in search of a gig, my wife recommended I go to California and find a job. 4 firms and 5 interviews later, I had a solid offer from a firm. I returned home, packed up the Taurus, dined with my family and friends and headed west for a new adventure. Hope was in the air.

That hope lasted 26 years at my company and developed into the adventure of my life. I retired in January 2014 and began my 2nd quest to visit family, friends and National Parks across this incredible country of ours. That quest continues to this day. How lucky I have truly been on the West Coast.

28 years in Southern California served as my initial tenure and has been a journey I will always cherish. In 2016, I moved to The Villages, FL and served a 27-month sentence in summer humidity and Hurricane Irma. With apologies to my Villages friends, I got out for good behavior and returned to so cal in 2018. These past 5 years have been simply divine along the way. The mentors, colleagues, friends, acquaintances and memories of my two tours of duty on the Left Coast will remain dear to me, forever.

After months of review, I have decided to return to my roots in northwest Indiana. During my 3 recent trips home, I have realized how truly wonderful my lifelong friends have mattered to me. While I leave behind incredible people that have crossed my path out west, I often think of Gene Hackman, who played Coach Norman Dale in the classic film, Hoosiers. A small-town basketball team challenges for the Indiana State Championship in 1951 and is based on a true story. As Coach Dale gathers his team in the locker room prior to the title game, he looks at each of them then remarks, “I love you guys”.

To the many, many wonderful people I have encountered and come to respect out west, Coach Dale’s words hit home as I return to the Midwest. Thank you for the moments that blossomed into memories for this traveler. We will stay in touch, and I will visit down the road, but please know you will forever remain in my heart. Thank you for it all.

sauseege: When I was in grade school, I was asked to write a composition: How I spent my summer vacation. With my family, that was a piece of cake. We’d pack up the car & head out on July 5th. Dad was behind the wheel & I was the map guy. Mom & the kids would alternate the copilot seat & the Holiday Inns were the evening resting spots. Washington D.C., Expo ’67, the Gateway Arch, the East Coast, Florida, relatives in IL, PA & TN were just some of the great moments that remain to this day. I loved the road then, as I do to this very day.

My annual journey this time around was no exception. 3 weeks, 6,200 miles, 12 states & wonderful family & friends once again added to the memories. Not too hot, not too rainy, nominal humility, err, humidity & a fistful of laughs with loved ones. Steve Medved used to say, “Nothing bad ever happens to me on vacation.” I hope I’m carrying his baton.

Page AZ was the initial stop & with it, guided tours through the Antelope Canyon Upper & Lower Slot Canyons. They were simply gorgeous. The colors, cuts & shape of the various rock & stone formations were simply magnificent.

When the subsequent Monument Valley tour was cancelled, I found a gem in its stead. The Navajo Code Talkers Museum in Tuba City was a hidden treasure. Originally, 29 Navajo Indians joined the U.S. Marines & trained in communications to guide their brethren through the islands & jungles of the Pacific in World War II. That number grew to 350 during their tenure in that & subsequent wars. No enemy ever broke their native code. Every one of them a true hero. Venturing through Sac, Foy, Navaho, Mojave, Hobi & Cherokee tribal lands into Albuquerque was endearing to truly get away from it all. Native America @ it’s finest.

On the way to Tulsa I lost count of the wind turbines dotting either side of the road. At one point the top ½ moon was centered directly ahead with countless turbines to my left & right. As Beethoven was playing on my speakers, the view resembled a magnificent orchestra at full sound with the moon as the conductor. Golf with Tom H Seibal the next morning & dinner with Tom, Angela Seibal, Cindy Carnahan Powell, Alison & Lauren was the final chapter to another perfect day with dear friends. I must say, Tom can cook up a Tomahawk Ribeye with the best of ‘em!

Onto Springfield to see my brother’s new home. On the way I stopped for a nosh in central Missouri & came across the Uranus Fudge Factory. Now, let’s all take a moment here, please. Needless to say their billboards approaching the factory were, clearing my throat, below the belt. My favorite was just east of town; You’ve Just Passed the Uranus Fudge Factory – Look Behind You. Dinner with Fred & Nancy was sublime – it was wonderful to spend time with my brother & his bride.

IU Bloomington was the lunch stop on the way home – a stromboli @ Nick’s English Pub is required eating. The air quality on that day was a sad shade of brown from the Canadian smoke – you could taste it. That Tuesday, Chicago & Detroit had the worst air quality, wait for it, on the planet. My mask came in rather handy. It reminded me of sunrise over the Coke Plant @ Inland Steel during my college years. Thank God those days are in my rear-view mirror.

Back home was a treasure of memories. I had the honor to coordinate a dinner @ Gamba’s Ristorante with a score of incredible friends from my Wonder Bread Years & beyond. Dee Vatterrodt Cox, Anne Dolk, Debbie Flanagan & Marc Hagn, Carol (Utke) Garrett, Dave & Kathy Williamson Hinshaw, Jill Edwards Holstein, Darlene (Held) & Chuck Jones, Steve Julovich, Sabrina Lee, Judy Higgins Maretich, Cyndi Ninkovich, Greg Ostrozovich Sr. & Julia Ostrozovich, Cindy (Gaskey) Rega & her beau Ken, Paul Seitzinger & Jim Trocha. I brought the wine; they brought the memories. Thank you All for a truly wonderful evening. More fun the next night with our 49th Reunion Happy Hour @ Buddy & Pals. The memories endured while the crowd got bigger & the stories a bit longer in the tooth. Next year is our 50th High School Reunion. I’m hoping for a blowout.

As Al Pacino said in Scent of a Woman, I’m just warming up! Off to Westfield to savor lifelong friends Milton Bonich & Cara Bonich. Their new home is remarkable & the time spent together over dinner was simply divine. They are simply the best. Two days later, onto La Porte to hook up with Bob Uremovich, Cory Webster, Dale Brooks, Stan Marovich, Pete Iussig & 4 others for a round of golf in South Bend. Bob, Cory & Dale had me laughing for 18 holes. At lunch, Pete & I finally remembered where we had originally met – we were on the same Little League team! I hadn’t seen him in, well, 56 years. What a blast. I savored my 1st pork tenderloin sandwich in well over 30 years as well. Spending time with Bob & Luann Uremovich afterwards was a true joy. Another great day in the memory banks.

Onto the 46th MOL Open. The Men of Leisure once again gathered @ Palmyra Golf Club for a wonderful day of memories. After a rainy morning, Mike Morrone, Tom Skaltsas, his son Christian & I brought home the virtual gold medal. Dinner with our consummate hosts Phil Gerbick & Shannon Gerbick was a feast of lamb, chicken & all the trimmings. MOL Jeopardy was, as always, a classic game after the perfect day with old friends. These truly ARE the good ol’ days.

In the morn, Dan Albrecht, Bill Brancic, Mike Morrone & I headed to Ft. Wayne to spend the day with Mike Krafft & Beau Montag Krafft. Kevin A Grove joined us for a fabulous lunch & high school yearbook reviews of our days gone by. Old friends are simply the best.

I was off to Kansas City, Denver & home following that fine day. The roads were very kind to me during the return. The rivers ranged in size and names from the Colorado, Illinois & Mississippi down to the Grand River, Crooked Creek & Muddy Creek. Several Jellystone Camping Resorts (Hey Boo Boo) were noted along the way. West of Denver, the Arapaho National Forest, Glenwood Canyon & traversing the White River are sights one simply must see. Music was my copilot on the entire journey, with Alan Parsons, Glenn Miller, the Moody Blues, Ol’ Blue Eyes, Ray Charles & Steely Dan leading the way. CSNY, Fleetwood Mac, Simon & Garfunkel, Billy Joel & Peter, Paul & Mary brought me home. Every day a different theme, every day a joy. My plans to visit Sequoia & Yosemite National Parks were deferred until their roads are open again. Spending time with the people I love transforms a vacation into a journey, a road trip into a memory. Please take the time to do the very same with the ones you cherish. It does the soul well.

Please note picture albums are found in my profile.

sauseege: Antelope Canyon Upper Cave pic

Bewatched: Well Hello havent been here awhile. Where from?

sauseege: Finally...

sauseege: She's not for sale...