King of the Jungle

Some of you

know already, and some may just learn this as I post this, that my grandfather passed away this past Monday 5/5/08. Thank you to everyone who keeps my family (most especially my grandmother) in your prayers. Please continue to keep her in your prayers...

He lived to be 95, married for 70 years, and traveled most of the world. He once had bright red hair but in all my lifetime he was completely bald and cute the way grandpas are.

He loved to play Backgammon and to eat Strawberry Ice Cream. He was known to me and all his grandchildren as Grandpa Lion.

He was a very intelligent man and had an impressive life (there are great things in our family gene pool, some of which I'd like to think I inherited). I thought I would share with you his obituary written by my grandmother from the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin that came out Wednesday, May 7, 2008:

Remembrance

Lynn William Kloepfer

Lynn William Kloepfer was born in Boise, Idaho April 13, 1913 to William Henry and Rachel Fuhriman Kloepfer. The family moved to Rupert, Idaho, where Lynn attended school, graduating from Rupert High School as Valedictorian and Student Body President. Lynn graduated from Utah State University, second in his class in 1935 and was awarded the Thompson Scholarship to Boalt Hall of Law, U.C. Berkeley. Lynn received his Juris Doctor degree in 1938, became a member of the California Bar in December of that year, and practiced law 57 years until his retirement December 31, 1995.

Lynn became attorney for the USDA Soil Conservation Service in Berkeley, California and Safford, Arizona. He then was chief attorney for the Sacramento Abstract and Title Co., Sacramento, California and subsequently received appointment as attorney in the Solicitor's Office of the USDA in San Francisco, California. In May, 1947, he moved to Ontario, California to establish his office for general practice of law, which he continued until his retirement. In December, 1988, the State Bar of California awarded him a citation for 40 years of meritorious service.

From 1952 until 1975, he was also City Attorney for the City of Ontario. During this term, the population of Ontario increased from 16,000 to 160,000. Among Lynn's duties as City Attorney were multiple annexations, and negotiating leases for tenants (including General Electric and Lockhead) of Ontario International Airport, which was then owned by the City of Ontario.

Lynn joined the Ontario Kiwanis Club in 1952 and was a member until his resignation in October, 2007, 55 years. He served the club in many capacities and was president 1969-1970.

On August 6,1937, Lynn married Marguerite Fonnesbeck. The couple had four children: William Leon (Marion), Kenneth Lynn and Robert Alan Kloepfer and Kathryn ("K.K.") Ellis (Stanley); 12 grandchildren: Susannah, William and Erin Kloepfer, Joy Park (Darrell), Kathryn Linkous (Kevin), Matthew Ellis (Natalie), Mark Ellis (Aupreille), John Ellis (Laura), Robert (Christa), Rachel, Spencer and Emily Ellis; two step-grandchildren: Sarah and Nathan Jones; and 11 great-grandchildren: Warren, Jared, Cameron and Nolan Park, Ryn and Elle Linkous; Samuel, Ethan, Brian Lynn, Caitlyn and Anne-Lorenne Ellis.

Lynn and Marguerite traveled throughout the world. Some of their adventures included avoiding a stampede of Bactrian camels in the Gobi Desert, flying over Mt. Everest and crossing the Soviet Union through five time zones on the Trans-Siberian Railway. OnAugust 6, 2007, the couple celebrated their 70^th wedding anniversary.

Lynn passed away on Monday, May 5, 2008 and arrangements will be private.

Angelina-isms

Susannah & Angelina

New friend: What is your name?

Angelina (age 4): Angelina Ballerina and DeLuca too. (Really her middle name is Marina…)

Angelina's Mommy: Angelina! Did you make this mess?

Angelina (age 2 & ½): No, Nastasha did it.

Nastasha (big sister): I DID NOT!

Angelina's Mommy: Well, who did?Angelina: hmmm… Daddy did it.

Angelina (age 6) [to her godfather, Izzy, after meeting his newborn son]:  He is sooo cute!  I want to babysit him.  I'll feed him and play with him and hold him!

Me: You can change his diapers too!  

Angelina: Oh no!  That's disgusting!

Me: I used to change your diapers.

Angelina: That's different because you're my honey and I'm your baby. 

[When I would tickle her feet she gave her feet names! Here is what she called them]

Angelina (age 2 & ½): Punch & Bananas

Angelina (age 3): Thunder & Lightning

[When she would attempt to tackle me to tickle me]

Angelina (age 3 & ½): You BIG Rascal

[When she doesn't want to do something or sometimes just as an announcement because she is proud of this fact]

Angelina: I'm little

Angelina's Mommy: Mrs. Teri (Angelina's Kindergarten Teacher) loves you and is so proud of you

Angelina (age 4): I don't really love her

Angelina's Mommy: Why?

Angelina: Because she gives me homework

Me: Angelina, you have to stop growing, soon I won't be able to pick you up and hold you any more....

Angelina: Daddy says I need to grow or I'll just be a little chicken.

Nastasha (big sister): Let's play hide and seek

Me: I don't know if we should be running around in the house…

Angelina (age 3): one… two… three…

Me (to Nastasha): Let's hide under the table in the dining room so it isn't too hard for the baby to find us…

[Nastasha and I hide]

Angelina: …ten …eleven …twelve …thirteen …Ready or not here I come…

[We hear Angelina stomping around the hallway and the girls bedroom and then we hear Angelina crying]

Me, calling out: Angelina, keep looking sweetheart. You will find us!

[More crying – Nastasha and I come out of hiding to see what is wrong and walk towards Angelina. Angelina stops crying]

Angelina (laughing): TAG! You're it!

After Billy (cousin, my brother) was his usual obnoxious self and teasing her:

Angelina (age 4): JESUS WOULDN'T DO THAT!

Izzy (Angelina's Godfather): Hello. [Kisses Angelina]

Angelina: The police are going to come and take you away from the party.

Izzy: Why?

Angelina: Because I called them to take you to jail for being very naughty

Aunt Yoly-mama (my mom, this is what Angelina calls her): Angelina, that isn't a nice thing to say!

Angelina: I didn't really call them, I only used my hand, see: [Angelina puts her hand with her thumb towards her ear and her little finger towards her mouth to form a phone] Will you take Yoly-mama too [giggles]

Angelina (age 4): Do you have great big boobs or little tiny boobs?

Me: Angelina! What are you talking about?

Angelina: oh, you have little tiny boobs…

Me: Angelina, we don't talk like this, why are you talking this way, you don't even have boobs.

Angelina: oh, yes I do. I have little tiny boobs. Do you know why girls have great big boobs?

Me: why?

Angelina: So they can pop! Hahahahahahahahahaha

Me: Where did you get this? How did you come up with this?

Angelina: From myself. I'm magic.

At Mass

Me: Angelina, do you see what they are doing up at the alter with the bread and wine?

Angelina: Yes, there is the Holy Spirit.

Love Story

I was working at B&N on a Friday night - what a bummer... but I am looking cute because early that day I went to court where I knew I would see this bartender I met at the Highlands Nightclub in Hollywood who I thought was a little cute & funny... Why I was going to court is another tale, maybe I will blog on it later - maybe not; short story: I was following the Beastie Boys' advice and fighting for my right to party, some of you know already I was arrested at a bachelorette party - okay, okay, I'm just trying to sound notorious... I wasn't really arrested: I was only detained as a witness. But I was handcuffed!

Eduardo Verastegui

(not in this story really; he is just assisting to give you a visual)

So unlike the usual work me I was wearing make-up and had my curls loose and I was turning heads..... (at least in my mind I was). Then I see him - this cute, cute boy. I don't think boys are cute that often, I think us girls tend to get the shorter end of the stick on this... there are many more better looking chicks then dudes. In fact - every guy I have ever dated I never thought was that cute when I first met him - usually his charm won me over and then I couldn't help thinking he was cute after knowing his personality. Even the bartender I got dolled up for I could take him or leave him.

But this was not the case - I was in love - at first sight. And he asks me "where is your philosophy section?" so I think wow, the boy has brains and is interested in a subject I like. Chances are he is atheist or something like many of the philosphy guys I have met in college classes. Hey! I figure: it is my job to straighten out the books: I think I will go straighten out the books that happen to be around him. He was sitting in the section I was in for the night anyway. Already I have little birds flying around my head and butterflies in my belly. So I am fixing the books on the lowest shelf in front of him and nothing happens... so after I am done with the books around him I decide to forget it and mosey onto an other area. And I had some books to put away so I am going from one aisle to the next when I see him again - and I notice him going back and forth between the aisles too, I realize he is trying to get my attention! And then he asks me -- are you ready...

"Do you have a CATHOLIC philosophy section?"

I think my jaw dropped - I asked him if he was Catholic and he was and we began talking about Thomas Aquainas and other Catholic things --- A guy who is smart, cute, interesting, dresses well, and into the faith I hold dear to my heart... I am thinking, so, God, is this the one? Is it that easy? In my head I am singing "I'm so excited, finanally it has happened to me". I am helping him look for a book and I reach for one and he reaches for one and our hands brush against eachother.... my heart skips a beat and so we are talking... and I never ask guys out but I am thinking if he doesn't ask for my number soon I am going to invite him to something - Search or a bible study or anything for an excuse to hang out... when he says

"my WIFE and I...." I don't remember the rest, I should have known, he did dress well...

to which I said "yeah, it was nice meeting you, have a nice day, good bye"

I have never fallen in love and had my heart broken so very quickly.

Is God playing a cosmic joke on me? Well, with a single girl who hasn't had a date in over a year - IT"S NOT FUNNY! I'm so depressed. Don't laugh at me.

Thank Heaven for Little Girls... Especially The Ones With Blue Eyes!

I love children - and there are three little girls in my life - all with blue eyes, who light up my life. I have come to realize that I don't think any person can be an atheist with a child around.

Nastasha, just turned 7, is a dark haired beauty with thicker eye lashes then I thought a person could have. At three years old Nastasha was asking me about our grandmother who died before she was born. I explained to her that Abue (our grandmother) with us in spirit and watching over us. Really, Nastasha had the lesson for me and said: "she is in my heart, just like Jesus" Where did she get that from?!?

Angelina's Birthday

Nastasha doesn't go to church regularly, parents are Catholic but do not go every week - so the day after her sister was born on a Sunday, everyone was busy and I thought I would be going to church alone. Then Nastasha, at age 5, asked to come with me. Nastasha is not a meek, calmly child. This kid is rambunctious as the next, or more so (already she has developed strong little biceps and calve muscles, and has definition!). She is very also very popular at school: my aunt mentioned more little boys came to her birthday party then she remembers seeing at any other children's parties... At any rate, I wouldn't have thought that she would choose to sit in church for an hour. I was so happy to have a little friend to hug and sit on my lap during Mass. God is very real and present in her life.

Angelina, Nastasha's sister, who is 2 and is learning to talk (I'm teaching her to say "I'm Cute") melts me with her smile... What a miracle that there can be such a tiny person running around who is so sweet... she seems to be much more calm then Nastasha ever was. Angelina has blue eyes too, but unlike her sister her dark brown hair is turning into honey blond with curls.

This week I have been trying to get together with my friend Johnna and her daughter, Zoe, who is my blue-eyed, 4-year-old God-daughter. With my crazy schedule it has not been easy to see one another. Today Johnna called me and asked if I would take Zoe to church - turns out Zoe has a million questions about God and is very excited to go to church. Johnna is a somewhat of a vegetarian so one day Zoe asked her mother why she didn't eat beef. Johnna said something about not liking the taste of meat. Zoe responded "that's not nice, God made cows..." Zoe already has a thankful heart and a desire to know God.

These three girls are at the top of my prayer list. The little ones I adore most are showing me God's love! The best part is I get to hug and kiss and eat them all up - and they squeeze back. God is so good.

God tells us we need to be like children to enter heaven (Mark 10:13-16). I am taking theology lessons from teachers 7 and under...

he is not my bodyguard

The Billy

Billy is the most annoying person in my life – I see his truck in the driveway when I come home and simply shutter in anticipation of what tortures I have in store for me. He is loud and obnoxious and I can't stand him – in fact, being his sister has let me know something disturbing about my character, it is very likely that I am possible of murder…

Having said this, I think it has to do with the chemistry that God put in sibling relationships, I

love my brother so much, I hope and pray for the best for him and I want to include him in everything (which I tend to regret, because he bugs me so much). People have tried to emulate this relationship I have with my brother. I have a pretty high tolerance and people really don't tend to bug me the way Billy does, no matter how hard they try, they are just much too nice to come close to the evil Billy can conjure up in his head.

– One guy, Isaac – came close: I remember he wanted to pick my nose,

in true Billy fashion. I warned Isaac to go ahead and molest me - if he wanted me to sock him in the face and never talk to him again. When Billy tries to pick my nose I have told him it is like rape, I hate it so much – which Billy laughs at how I could even compare the two – and because I hate it, Billy loves to do it. I hit Billy pretty often. What Isaac doesn't understand is that he doesn't have the bond of being my brother that Billy has so he would not be able to get away with it – not that Billy does get away with it… but I will still love Billy afterwards... anyone else I probably would never talk to again – come on, now, it is just plain gross!

Now, just last weekend, a friend of ours, Jason, stated that we have the best sibling rivalry he has ever seen. To Billy this is quite a compliment, and now, as if it were an Olympic event, Billy strives on being the best he can be – he is going for the gold of being a total ass. Really, if I were to ever need a bodyguard, it would be to protect me from my brother.

To be fair to the little booger – I have beat him up more times then you can imagine, and just thinking of giving Billy a wet willie give me the giggles – I will not pass up an opportunity to give him one. It is getting harder and harder too, because when he is not even looking in my direction and I just motion my finger towards my mouth he instinctively will cover his ears – he has a 6th sense. When I accomplish getting one good one in his ear it is just about the most delightful thing ever.

I also have a series of nick names for him: Sideshow Bob,Fabio, Kramer (from Seinfeld), Justin Timberlake, Justin Guarini (1st American Idol), Cinderella (Rock Band), Shirley Temple (after a day at the beach and swimming in the ocean Billy's hair turns to golden ringlets, it is quite adorable) … those are just a few of the names I have for his hair…. I won't bore you with all the things I call him (it is quite a list).

To be kind to Billy he is quite a cutie-pie. He saw that I was putting in look-a-likes and insisted to add Heath Ledger. He also thinks he resembles Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker/young Darth Vader). A friend of mine said he looks like Tennis Pro Dmitry Tursunov. I thought I would throw in Ryan Phillippe too.

I took Billy to my dance lesson this last Sunday after church – he wants to learn his stuff. Billy

really enjoyed the class. My dance teacher for this class always reminded me of Gaston from Beauty and the Beast - he just believes that he is the most

beautiful thing on the planet. Billy thought my dance teacher, who is also a Casanova/Pepe Le Pew type, was a great character to do one of his impressions of. Alberto (another student in the class) told our dance instructor, "look, she brought her bodyguard". Alberto joked with me, "no one will want to dance with you with him around…" So Mr. Le Pew asked me "So, this is your body guard?" I told them – he is not my bodyguard; he is my little brother. "Little? You mean he is younger?" my dance teacher asked me.

Billy will always be Baby Billy in my heart (hey, call Billy that: Baby Billy, he loves it!) – and I am a very strong big sister, I will kick anyone's ass who even thinks of messing with him, that is a job reserved for myself. I don't see Billy as others do. I guess they see this man around 6'3" tall, athletic – could he really even be intimidating???… nah, this is Billy we are talking about here.

Most people are safe – if you try to bug me Billy will probably just laugh and want to shake your hand. If anyone were to hurt me though… well, if that were to happen, and Billy was around, don't feel so bad for me as for the person that hurt me because he may end up in the hospital. But what brother wouldn't do that for a sister? Billy knows I can handle myself – only fight I have ever been in is when I was in the 8th grade. While I have not been in many fights, Billy knows first hand of my rage, and both he and my mother feel sorry for anyone that crosses my path. Thankfully, few, if any, of my friends have ever seen that rage (it's ugly.)

Brother and Sister on a Christmas Morning

At any rate, Billy is not a bodyguard; he is my Baby Billy.

Baby Billy