Markus Randel's Blog

Dear Joseph and Lucia,

I went to the museum today.  Enjoy

Dear Joseph and Lucia,

It’s another Friday. I’ll likely wait until tomorrow before heading home. I might just take the weekend off and stay up here.  I might visit the museum and garden with my camera.  I would hate to miss out on a weekend with Michèle, but the drive gets old really fast.

Someone has been trolling pictures on my blog. Every time I see that kind of activity, I always hope its one of you two. Please leave a comment anywhere.  I’ll see it and respond.

I still have your Christmas presents I bought for you 8 years ago. They are wrapped and under the tree same as every year since I last saw you. One day, I will get to see you open them.  It’s been long enough, I’ll let you open them even if it’s not Christmas.

Until then, I’ll be waiting.

Love,
Dad

Dear Joseph and Lucia,

I’m going to share with you some of the gripes I have.

A speed limit is exactly that… a LIMIT.  If I don’t feel the road conditions are right, I’ll happily drive slower than the posted.

If you are in a grocery store, don’t leave your basket in the middle of the aisle while considering options.  Be aware of other shoppers around you.

While staying in a hotel or apartment, walk toe first if not on the first floor.

Use the indicator while driving. And when the car in front of you uses one to change lanes in front of you, you shouldn’t accelerate and cut them off.

Basically, be aware and considerate of those around you.

There. Got that off my chest.

I’ll be waiting for you.

Love,
Dad

Dear Joseph and Lucia,

I’m back up in OKC after an extended weekend at home.  It’s cold!

Our Thanksgiving meal of lamb got postponed until Saturday, but the end result was wonderful.  We all ate until we were stuffed.  It was wonderful to have both girls at the table.  They bickered and picked on each other like old times.  It’s amazing that two girls raised in the same house can have two complete different perspectives.  Of course puberty has an incredible effect on behavior.  Poor Rachael is right in the thick of it and can’t wait to stir it up with every conversation.

Michèle and I had a very quiet and peaceful time together in the end. We watched a lot of movies and got the Christmas decorations up.  The only thing left are the lights on the house outside.  We’ll get those up next weekend.

In the mean time, I’m staying in an extended stay hotel for the next few weeks until I can find new living arrangements. I’m interviewing with a place tomorrow, so let’s hope it works out better than the last place. It’s awkward to know everything I have is in my trunk, but I’m glad for the freedom it offers.

So until you reach out, I’ll be here waiting and toiling away in my daily “stuff”.

Love,
Dad

Dear Joseph and Lucia,

I ate so much yesterday, I have a food hangover this morning.  Rachael and Melynda were with their father yesterday, so it was just Michèle and I.  We had one guest, another single parent without his daughter.  Instead of turkey, we did a fondue.  Michèle pulled out the fondue pot I inherited from Mom and Dad.  She came up with a fantastic broth and we cooked steak, shrimp, broccoli and mushrooms.  Michèle even did a few scallops.  In all, it was a pleasant and quiet day.

Today is going to be a bit different, too.  Melynda and Rachael are both coming home for dinner.  Instead of turkey, we’re doing a leg of lamb, couscous, roasted root vegetables, mint jelly, and a relish from fresh veggies.  I’ll be sure to take pictures to share with you.

I was so tired last night, my snoring kept Michèle awake and she eventually went to Melynda’s room where she is quietly snoozing now.  Joseph, the only way to keep from snoring is to keep your weight down.  With your share of the Foreman genes, you should be ok, but just know it runs in the family from my side.

The Grinch is still tearing up my Facebook profile.  He keeps trying to make people angry, but everyone seems to enjoy his “salty” view of things.  I sure hope you can learn to be “salty” with a smile.

I should probably make a fresh pot of coffee for Michèle considering it’s 6:30.  She’s likely to be a bit short with me after all my snoring.

So off with you guys. Go enjoy the day. Know that I’ll be here waiting.

Love,
Dad

Dear Joseph and Lucia,

It’s at the end of the day on Tuesday, and tomorrow I get to have the first of five days off at home! That’s a rare treat and I can’t wait, especially as your Dad will be there with me!

We have alot to be Thankful for – one of those things is being able to look forward to having you guys celebrate Holidays with us one day. Melynda and Rachael will be with their “other family” on Thursday, and have a second “Thankgiving” with us on Friday. Hopefully, a similar arrangement can be made with you all in the future.  I enjoy imagining telling you about all our adventures and finding out about all of yours.  Last Sunday, I had a skype conversation with my Grandma’s Father’s Grandniece, Irene Dalton nee Redpath,…. from my Scottish family, it’s just such a wonderful thing to build broken family bridges and I look forward to doing that with you both.

In the meantime, we are going to prepare a Friday meal of a Leg of Lamb, roast potatoes, beets, parsnips and carrots and a made from scratch apple pie! Yum!

I hope you have a wonderful week (off school) and may the time between now and meeting you be ever shorter!

X HUG! Michele

Dear Joseph and Lucia,

Good morning, kiddos. It’s been a heck of a week and it’s only Tuesday.  I’m taking tomorrow off along with the rest of the week for Thanksgiving. I helped Michèle install a new microwave last weekend, so the kitchen should be ready for cooking up some good things. Drilling into ceramic tile is a little harder than I expected. I’m thinking a leg of lamb with couscous and a fresh relish. There are so many things besides Momma Mickey’s recipes I can teach you in the kitchen.

My living arrangements in OKC are in flux right now, but I’m finding I can just take deep breaths and I know everything will work out fine.  I always have a home and family in Richardson. Everything here is temporary. A long story short is I’m having to move out of my current room.  I’ve been staying in a hotel this week.  The upside is the bed is comfortable.

After this workday is finished, I’ll get to go home.  I can’t wait.

I think of you guys every day. I’ll always be waiting for you to leave a comment.  You can always email me directly at markus.randel@live.com.

Love,
Dad

Dear Joseph and Lucia,

Another Friday has rolled around. I had tickets booked for the train, but decided to make the drive instead.  I’m left with so little time when I take the train. I’m not looking forward to the drive, but I sure am excited to be home.

The past few days have gotten record breaking traffic here on the blog. There are even views from Russia.  Go figure. I still wait and hope that one of you guys are reading it.  Heck, even if your mother is reading it, there’s hope.

If anyone in or around Woodville, TX is reading this, let Joseph Allen Randel (15) or Mary Lucia Randel (13) know about the blog. It’s the only way I have to reach them. They attend Our Lady of the Pines at last check.

Sorry for the call-out guys.  Just trying to reach you.  I’ll do whatever it takes. And until then, I’ll wait for you.

Love,
Dad

Dear Joseph and Lucia,

I tend to get grumpy every year around this time.This year will be especially tough.  I miss my mom and dad so much. Last year their passings were still fresh.  This year I’ll be making meals from all the dishes and utensils they left for me.

I started a tradition years ago that when the first Christmas lights go up, I change my online profile to the Grinch. I take on the persona… I become the Grinch.  I’ve always told myself the year I can have you with me for Christmas is the day the Grinch gets put away.

The lights are getting hung in Caldwell this week.  The Grinch is coming out. At least this year I’ll use a Minion Grinch. But I’m still going to be grumpy. I’ll wait as always… grumpy.

Love,
Dad