Tis the season!

This semester will be over when Christmas arrives, but I want to wish all my instructors and classmates a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year while I have the chance. I will miss you. Endings can be sad. Endings can also be happy, however. I will be happy to get these finals out of the way. Especially algebra. I am anxious to get the ethnology paper finished, but not because I dread working on it. I want to see what it turns out like too! I have had a good time working on this paper. I have learned a lot about the life and times of the Nuernberger family and their farm. I have heard so many stories that have made me laugh. Some are serious, but mostly I have come to realize that this family is all about enjoying life and appreciating each other and their friends. They are all willing to help anyone anytime. I don't think I will ever run out of questions about this farm and family, even when my paper is finished. There is so much to learn and so much history. I am so glad I chose this subject. The hard part is eliminating certain things! I don't have time to write a whole novel right now! Maybe someday. Who knows? The worst part is that English class will be finished before I get to witness an actual butchering season or planting season. Oh well. Such is life. Seasons come and seasons go.

I need this short week of school!!!!

I am really glad we only have two days of school this week. I so need the break! I am going to work in the success center Monday and Tuesday and HOPEFULLY will get to have 5 days where I can rest, relax, and enjoy a few days of leisure time. I would like to go Christmas shopping one day, but this will NOT be Black Friday!!! I have a brother-in-law home from Florida I would like to visit one day. There is a dance in New Athens Wednesday night I would like to go to. I have to work Sunday. So my time off is pretty well planned. My English paper is coming along okay. Like I said, I want to work on it today and tomorrow and will probably do a couple more interviews at the farm this weekend, but I need some time to do the things I want. Even though I will miss some of my classmates and instructors, I am ready for this semester to be over. My plans are then to start the LPN program at The Beck Center in July. Too many pre-reqs for this girl to take to become a RN!!! I won't graduate til I'm seventy years old at this rate!!!! Happy Thanksgiving to all who read this!!!!

It's all coming together

Even though I haven't started my paper yet, I have been rehearsing in my mind how I'm going to put it together. I have interviewed every one but one lady. This lady is about eighty years old and is the one who has worked on the geneology of this particular Nuernberger family. Julie (Nuernberger) Main, Vic's oldest sister, and her husband, John, gave me a lot of interesting stories, too. When I interviewed Vic's brother, Dan, his wife kept interrupting him telling him he was wrong (this was Dan's own memories here!!!) and I found out that when I interview I should do this one on one. It was really hard to decipher my recording with Ms. Mouth contradicting Dan all the time. But I did get some good stories from Dan, too. This story has become very important to me. I was asked by Julie and John last night if they could have a copy of my paper to hand down to their grandchildren. What an honor! And to you, Kira, I have some more ghost stories coming!!!!! To the rest of you, I was worried at first that I wouldn't be able to get your interest writing about a farm, but I have discovered that with this particular farm and family, I can assure you this will be one good paper! Good luck to the rest of you! Can't wait to read your papers!

Down in the Dumps

I will be writing two blogs this week. Last week I was so down in the dumps I couldn't think straight. This week I am still tired from feeling so bad last week. I am glad algebra is finally getting easier for me and I'm glad that our group project in my speech class is over. But this poor old body was so stressed out that it's just going to take a while to get back to feeling better. I am excited about putting this ethnology paper together and am getting things organized for that. I hope all my classmates have utilized the success center. Without the help from Hannah, Annette, and Lydia, I wouldn't be where I am today. Sometimes I'm in here until 7 p.m. When my mind goes blank from being tired, one of these three wonderful people will encourage me to keep on going. I would advise anyone who is struggling to get your buns in here for help. Last week I thought about giving up on this college thing. After all, I'm not twenty anymore. One thing that kept me going was the fact that I've never been a quitter. The other thing that kept me going was the support of Mr. Nadziejko and the staff here in the support center. Also, the Nuernberger family has talked to me so much about this farm paper, I just couldn't tell them that I gave up on everything. No, I may have been down in the dumps, but I'm back and going strong. Never give up!

Time to get it together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am getting excited about putting this ethnology paper together. I don't know how much I will end up with, but I hope to keep it interesting to all who have to read this fifteen-plus page paper. There are so many things I have found that I would like to share with everyone! Last week I was shown a collection of antique auto license plates dating back to 1911!!! This week I was shown a collection of beer cans that I have never heard of and a couple were made even before I was born! That's less than 1/2 of a hundred years ago! Or whatever. I guess you wonder why I would even consider putting something like these two artifacts in with my paper on the farm, but these farmers have always had cars and/or trucks to drive and they do love their beer and have for quite some time, it seems. Yesterday a hog died on the farm, but Vic wouldn't let me see that. I guess he thought I'd run away screaming, but I told him that I HAVE ALREADY BEEN in the nursing field and I have seen some things that could probably make him pass out! I didn't see the hog, though. Why would I want to write about a dead hog anyway? So I am interviewing, researching, writing, and editing my paper. Wish I could just concentrate on this and not have to do algebra!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Old Farmer's Hall at RBHS

My two oldest daughters attended Red Bud High School. The eldest graduated in 1991 and the second eldest in 1995, so I am familiar with the old "Farmer's Hall" at RBHS. My eldest grandson is now a sophomore at RBHS and tells me this hall no longer exists. I thought about asking Colin if they had replaced this hall with "Gothic Hall" or something, but I haven't seen a lot of gothic people hanging around in Red Bud, so I thought I'd leave that comment alone. Thank God my Colin is a "jock" or are they called "athlete" today? However, back in the day, the school had one certain hall where the local farm boys and their "red neck" friends would congregate. That tells me that farmers and red-necks were basically in the same catagory at the old RBHS. My second daughter and her group of friends liked hanging out in Farmer's Hall, too! Amy ended up marrying one of those boys. Tim is from Rocher and is an awesome man, son-in-law, a wonderful husband, and fabulous father. I have liked ole' Tim-Bob, though, since the day Amy brought him home to meet her parents. Doing my research on the Nuernberger Farm, I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of farmers lately and in my personal experience, I have found them to be very kind and giving people. Oh, some like to complain and some seem to always find the "glass half empty", but when push comes to shove, they have a heart of gold and a helping hand to always lend. The old Farmer's Hall at RBHS may have fresh paint and new faces today, but for a lot of RBHS alumni, I would love to hear some of the stories told in that hallway back in the day.

Changing my course

I am taking a pre-entrance exam at Beck Center on November 1st for their LPN program. After talking to a few RN friends I have, they have told me that I would be just as well off to go to Beck for my LPN degree. Today's RN is mostly stuck charting, unless I want to go further in college and get a higher degree. And I don't. I'm already tired. I am not signing up for any spring classes at SWIC. Not yet anyway. I will not get into Beck's LPN program until at least July of 2011, so I am just gonna take a break from school until that time. But until December, I have to strive to do my best here at SWIC with what I've started. I have to try to get those A's in algebra, english, and my speech class. Apparently, the more pre-reqs you have from college courses, the better. Even for the LPN program. I am proud of the way algebra has clicked for me. Too bad I will forget it as soon as this semester is over. I know I will. But as for english, I have learned a lot about expressing myself in writing and am enjoying doing this paper on the Nuernberger farm. I have so much to write about I don't know what to omit!! I will miss this class when it's over. I will!

Still behind and frustrated!

I have been in the Success Center these past few weeks trying my best to catch up on Algebra and English. Hannah and Lydia are the tutors in the Success Center are they are both great! Since I have been visiting there so often, I have become very attached to them. Not only are they a lot of help, but sometimes we just have a great laugh, and that is very good medicine for me when I'm feeling a tad bit overwhelmed! Even though Hannah is there for Math and Lydia is there for English tutoring, they are both able to help me with either class I may need help in. Last week a student in Mr. Nadziejko's English 101 class told me we were to be following fifty students on our blogs. I cannot figure out how to add these students! I wonder if I missed class the day he told us how or showed us how? Now that I have dropped two classes, I do have the time to catch up, but then I get stuck trying to figure out how to do things on this blog site and I get really frustrated! Lydia has had Mr. Nadziejko as an instructor before, but she is not familiar with blogspot. Hannah is not too familiar with it either. Oh well, I will have my act together by Thursday at my conference with him and will let him know about this problem. As far my ethnology report, can anyone tell me how long the final draft is suppose to be on the 19th? I don't have that answer either!! Also, if you know how I can add these people to follow, please let me know that too! Have a great week all!

Way too busy!!!

I don't know about anyone else in my class, but I am feeling a big overwhelmed right now. I have been trying to get caught up in English, but I have had other papers to write in two other classes, plus I had a big algebra test last Friday, and I am a bit behind in English class. I guess I will be writing my four page rough draft on butchering because Vic found an antique artifact and it has to do with butchering. I will make this as interesting to all of you as possible, I promise. As tired as I am, I still try to find humor in life. I also have some pictures to bring in of a butchering season in the past, so I hope you all have strong stomachs. Some are gross, but it is all part of the butchering game. I am fortunate to be able to write now on butchering, though, because they do this in December and my paper might be due before they actually do this year's butchering, so this may work out for the best. I am anxious to see how many of you will still want to eat pork chops, pork steaks, ham, bacon or any other pork after you see some of these pictures!! Have you ever heard of "Head Cheese"? Oh, how totally gross!

The Princess and the Nuernberger

After church Sunday, I was talking to Vic’s sister-in-law. I told her that I would like to get with her and her mother soon to do some research about the family history on the farm. Mary Jo proceeded to tell me the story about how far back they had been able to work on the geneology. I believe she told me they were able to get back to the late 1700’s, but the exact dates will be in my paper. The exact names will also be in my paper, but I was so excited to hear this story that I just wanted to brief all of you in my blog this week of this finding. Apparently, there was a princess in Germany that married a Nuernberger. Way back then, when you were of royalty and married a commoner, you were dethroned. This princess apparently loved this Nuernberger guy so much that she decided to give up her royal title. I am so anxious to get with Mary Jo and her mother to get these facts. Mary Jo told me that she can prove the geneology, but that she cannot prove the fact that this ancestor was a princess due to the fact that she was dethroned. I am so ready to get started on this paper! So far I have heard so many different stories that I believe I could write a book!

I'm allergic to corn

I have been riding with Victor on the combine harvesting corn up until last week. When I rode with him while he combined wheat, I had no problem with allergies or sinuses. This corn, however, gave me a sinus infection. This problem started Saturday before last when my ears starting ringing. As four days passed, my ears were still ringing and I felt horrible! I had intentions of going to the doctor last Tuesday afternoon, but I canceled to get caught up on some homework. Last Thursday morning, I woke up at 3:30 A.M. with a fever of 102, so off to the doctor I went. He said I had fluid in my ears and I was clogged up in the head (more than usual!!!)and gave me Amoxil and told me to stay home until I was fever-free for 24 hours. He then asked me if I was usually bothered when the farmers were out in the fields combining corn. I told him that it never bothered me before, but I did not tell him I was actually on one of those combines. He proceeded to tell me that a person can develop allergies at any given time. The corn harvesting is almost complete, but next are soybeans. I will ride on the combine one night during the bean harvesting and see how I react. I am hoping that it is only corn I am allergic to!

Combining Corn

Well, I had my first experience combining corn Monday evening. Just climbing up in this combine was a bit scary for me. I am afraid of heights! I got inside this big piece of air conditioned machinery and sat quietly in the "buddy seat". Away we went at an average speed of 3.8 miles per hour up and down rows and rows of corn. If you have ever played the video game, "Pac Man", you may be able to understand what I was visualizing as I was riding along. This process also had me mesmerized, just like an open fire will draw me in and keep me staring into it for minutes at a time. I watched as this combine would knock over the cornstalks and just as quickly as it did this, shelled corn would pour out behind me in the rear window as the big bowl of the combine collected the nicely shelled corn. When the bowl was full of corn, Victor took the combine to the eightteen-wheeler farm truck and this long tube would come out of the side of the combine and would empty the corn from the combine into the truck. Away we would go again and get more corn until all the trucks, wagons, and combines were full of shelled corn. Since it was late evening, combining and filling wagons were all we did. Stayed tuned for more exciting events from the life and times at the Nuernberger Farms!

COLLEGE OVERLOAD!!!!

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed this week!  I have too much homework!  I need to get more disciplined in my studies, I guess.  I have classes five days a week.  I have a part-time job, children, grandchildren, a boyfriend and lots of homework.  Trying to juggle this new life can be totally overwhelming at times!  Sometimes I think I have made a mistake in wanting to return to college and further my nursing career at my age.  After a few hours without opening a book or looking at a computer screen, however, I find that renewed strength and keep on going on.  I have a lot of determination.  Also, for a graduation present, I am looking forward to getting a Mustang convertible!  I keep reminding myself that this hard road ahead will all be worth it in the long run!  I just have to keep on thinking and typing, typing and thinking, researching and studying, and so on!

Well I have to go to Algebra now.

Permission Letter

8 September 2010

  

Dear Mr. Nadziejko and Classmates:

I would like your permission to write about the history of the Nuernberger Farm.  This farm is located about two miles east New Athens, IL and to present extends almost to Marissa, IL.  It has been in the family for about one hundred sixty three years.  This is a subject I find very interesting and I have a lot of access to the family and all who help make a success of this farm.

This farm was first purchased in 1847.  The large farmhouse that now stands was once just a log cabin.  Underneath the original log cabin are still logs holding up the structure of this part of the home.  The home was added on to in the earlier years and now consists of nine rooms.  This home still has steam heat radiators.  Victor, the youngest of this generation of Nuernberger men, now resides in the farmhouse.  This is also the home he grew up in along with about seven generations of his ancestors.  There are some interesting stories about certain "ghosts" in this home and on one stormy night, I think one of these "ancestors" tried to protect me from getting struck by lightning.  This is a part of the story I will tell you about if you decide to let me write about this farm.

Other members of the Nuernberger family I will be interviewing are Dan and Mary Jo Nuernberger, Victor's older brother and sister-in-law, and Julie Nuernberger Main, Victor's older sister.  Others who take care of this farm include Victor's nephews, Ed and Brad Main.  There are several brothers of Julie's husband, John Main, who help at the farm.  I will also be interviewing very good family friends who own some of the newer farm acreage along with the Nuernberger family. 

I have spoken to most of the family members about my interest in writing this paper.  Victor has told me so many different stories already about his experiences on this farm.  He took me on my very first ride in a combine during the wheat harvesting.  These farmers are now busy harvesting corn.  Harvesting soybeans and planting wheat will come next.  I will be involved in all of this. 

The Nuernbergers no longer have cattle or horses, but they have had them in the past.  Today they continue to raise, sell, and butcher hogs.  Butchering season is in December.  I plan to be right in the middle of this whole process!  From the pictures of have seen, I am very glad I have a strong stomach!

The Nuernberger family is very prominent in the community of New Athens and in St. Clair County.  They are a very giving family to their community and highly respected.  When St. John's United Church of Christ has the Fall Wurstmart, all of the meat is donated by the Nuernberger Farm.  I have seen certificates from several different organizations hanging on the walls of the farmhouse.

These people are excited to help me out and most have told me they will have their own story about the happenings on this farm.  This paper will not be limited to riding in combines and plowing fields.  I will tell you about the original cost of the farm in 1847, the several generations of Nuernbergers that have lived on this farm, the changes in farming from 1847 to the present, planting and harvesting seasons, butchering seasons, and the hobos that lived by the farm at one time.

I can also ask about the cost of the some of the large equipment they have to use, how the economy is affecting the farm, how the government likes to dictate how they can no longer plow fields under and cannot use certain pesticides.  I will ask if being a farmer still seems like a rewarding profession. 

I visit the farm often and already know who I want to interview and about what topic I want each of these family members and all who help out to tell me about.  I can also ask a few villagers what makes this farm so special to the people of the New Athens. 

Sincerely,

Deb Reeves

How Many Times Can I Follow Myself Around?

Today is Tuesday, 31 August 2010.  I have been at SWIC since eight o'clock this morning in the Student Success Center.  Hannah and I have been trying to figure out if I have opened two accounts with this blogger.  The problem is I am not able to manage my blogs because I cannot sign in using my "user name" because it happens to be an invalid email address.  My English Professor is going to have a blast reading my blog.  He knows how I am with computers.  I can truly get things messed up!

In June of 2010, I took English 101.  I thought I would be diagramming sentences and learning about dangling participles again, just like in high school. 

I went to high school in the early seventies.  There were no computers.  In my typing class, I typed on an old fashioned, "hurt my fingers", typewriter.  I did take a computer class here in Red Bud when SWIC was called BAC.  This was back in 1987.  Computers were not all that common to have in homes yet.  I took this class to refresh my keyboarding skills.  I found the computer keyboard to be a lot more comfortable than the old fashioned typewriter I used in high school. 

Now here I am in 2010.  I'm getting old, but I have decided to follow my dream and try to become a registered nurse.  I have a year of pre-requisites to finish before I can enter the nursing program.  In English 101, I was finally getting used to WebCT and now I have to learn to type on this blogger.  I am my own follower right now because I've already messed up.  I have to laugh!  I will get better!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA3H0sWUMyo