The Madge Returns

"The Madge" is back from Frisco and took a grand total of five pictures. Wow she wants the memories, anyway here they are. No they aren't Caden but Sean from CT who was visiting with Meaghan.

Shame on Me

I was reminded or should I say scolded this evening that I never mentioned the other birthday gifts I received from Allison, Meaghan and "The Madge. Allison did put some thought into the gift as one of my favorite movies is "Friday Night Lights" and I tried to watch the series but because of one thing or another I missed most of them. Well Ali got me the first two seasons and for all I know the only seasons. Meaghan, I think had some help from a friend and ex dentist of mine "Sal P". She ordered a bunch of candy from an Olde Time Candy Store. I think Sal gave her the idea, he's the only dentist I know that serves tea and coffee in his waiting room. He then tells you that your teeth are stained and for a few hundred dollars he can whiten them, I also think he encourages people to smoke. I know that Meg asked Erin "What candy do you think Dad likes?" and Erin made a few picks that quite frankly I don't like but I know Erin does. So as I sit here snacking on the 6 pounds of Necco Wafers I kept, I am looking up a name local dentist. Meg this gift is one that keeps on giving, thank you. "The Madge" really put a lot of thought into her gift . She bought me a video game for my Playstation III, would have been great except I don't own a Playstation III.

Brings A Tear To Your Eye

I received the following story from a very good friend of mine Pat Orsini of the Orsini's of Florence Italy. Quite a nice story - Thank You Pat
In 1986, Peter Davies was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University. On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Peter approached it very carefully.
He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant's foot and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, Peter worked the wood out with his hunting knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot. The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on it's face, stared at him for several tense moments. Peter stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned and walked away. Peter never
forgot that elephant or the events of that day.
Twenty years later, Peter was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teen aged son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Peter and his son were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Peter, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man.
Remembering the encounter in 1986, Peter couldn't help wondering if this was the same elephant. Peter summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped his trunk around one of Peters legs and slammed his stupid ass against the railing, killing him instantly.
Probably wasn't the same elephant.

I'm 62 and don't give a Rat's

The birthday is over and it's now on to the next one. Received great gifts even after me asking for nothing. The Texas kids gave me tickets to a Texas A & M / Texas Tech football game which will be held at A & M in College Station. Texas Tech trails in the overall series 34-31-1, but has won 10 of the last 13 contests ... Red Raiders are averaging 50.8 points per game under Coach Leach in the last five games against the Aggies ...Tech has won the last two of three in College Station. Our Texas girls went to Tech and Erin's husband Brad was a A & M grad. Sorry Brad but I will be wearing nothing but red and black, gotta cheer for the school that I helped pay for. I do predict that it will be a low scoring game and Tech will win - score 70 - 63. The Madge has been up in Frisco this week so I have been existing on mini shredded wheat, frosted of course, and Lyn and Bob came over on Friday soooo we hit Mel's for lunch. Later that day Kathy C. called and invited me to Mi Rancho for a Mezcan dinner. Had to pass as I don't want to abuse my body, Ha. Ooops don't inflate your inner tubes yet, the pool builders called and have postponed everything by one week. Now I hope we will have it done before Labor Day.

Like Father Like Son

Brad sent me a movie of Caden and asked “See if you notice anything similar as to when you take pictures of me?” I had to run it a few times to finally recognized the similarities, it’s true about the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. Take a look at the video below and see if you notice anything similar with the two of them. Give up??? Play it again and this time look at their hands. It’s nice to see the same amount of respect from both of the male Struck’s.

Splash Town in Windrose

As I had mentioned before “The Madge” insisted that we have a pool installed primarily for Her, Cooper, Grandkids, Our Kids, Relatives, Friends and me. Well the long wait is over. On June the 9^th they start staking out the yard and the following day they start digging. Weather permitting it should be finished in one month, hopefully in time for Erin and Caden’s visit for the Fourth of July.

What is unbelievable is we had three custom pool companies come out and look things over. Two actually gave us a bid and after we made certain modifications to the plans only one gave us a final quote. I would like to make some further minor changes (adding an outlet or a water faucet) but I am afraid that they too might disappear like the others and we would be back to square one.

I read somewhere that the U.S. is in a recession or people are giving up certain luxuries because prices are spiraling out of control. I wish someone would tell the pool companies in Texas about these hard times. One pool builder does 200 pools per year, this is a small custom builder that has a staff of two with everything subcontracted out. I don’t know how much he makes per year but his he lives in a BIG house and his company car is a new Porsche. I am now thinking of starting up a pool company and looking for a partner, can anyone say “Dig the hole here” in Spanish.

Caden 10 days old

When asked about his Pops in Spring, Caden couldn't express himself verbally (give him another two weeks) but the following pictures say it all.

June 2nd is almost here

The Madge” approached me today asking what I would like for my birthday. This particular birthday will be my 62nd one. Years ago this would signify that I have reached my retirement age but since that happened two years ago this birthday represents absolutely nothing except getting through another year. Getting me a gift is not the easiest thing to do as I consider myself lucky having everything I desire. Clothes never did the trick nor do I need anymore, everyday a different shirt, pants, socks and underwear and since “The Madge” does wash every other day I wear the same clothes over and over again. The back of my closet and the bottom of my drawers are uncharted territories. What about tools, nope, the only tool I have used since “kicking back” is a corkscrew. Toys??? No way, I haven’t mastered my “Guitar Hero” yet and can borrow the latest video games from my son in law. Usually the kids get me movies but since I (thanks to Henry) now download every movie that comes out, “Save Your Money”. To my children I will get sentimental and say Thank You for two grandsons, a budding romance and for being so helpful with everything. “The Madge” can give me happiness, laughs and getting out there and having fun, not for me but for her. These are the best gifts I could have asked for and you can now see I did get everything I wanted, what a lucky guy I am. Now where is the cake???

The Latest and Greatest

These pictures of Sean were taken two days ago.

Now in Video Form

Caden's first week.

I Demand Equal Time

With the arrival of Caden plus having parents that take a lot of pictures, the blog has lately been showing all Caden. Our daughter Meaghan has finally sent some new pictures of our other grandson Sean. Keep it up!!!

Brad & Erin versus Caden

The Madge, Cooper and me just returned from Frisco where we witnessed one little baby tiring out two adults. After six days of existing in this world it's Caden 6, Parents 0. I called Vegas to see what the line is after two months of playing and it's Caden giving 57. Smart money is on Caden. We had a great time and Caden is a riot. I don't know what a child less than one week old is supposed to be able to do but this little guy not only holds his head up but is trying to crawl or should I say squirm forward. The new parents are doing everything "by the book" to the point of not using common sense which I know they have. Warm a bottle after taking it out of the Refridgerator - Brad stood at the sink for ten minutes running the hot water over the bottle, Huh???? Do you think he's nervous. Here's a bunch of new pictures of the Strucks and "The Madge".


In a few of those pictures Caden looks about two months old but all of them were taken the day he was born.

Chinese Heavyweight Boxer, No Way??

Since I’ve been alone these last few days, OK Cooper’s been with me, I have been religiously sticking to my (The Madge’s) diet. It has finally come to me that I really haven’t gained weight but rather a victim of a conspiracy by the yellow people to have Westerner’s starve to death. I believe that since there are no XL nor Large models in the Far East they just “wing it” when it comes to sizing and slowly reduce the sizes until one can not fit into the Large but have to bump up to an XL, or XL to XXL. You then become depressed, go on a drastic diet thereby weakening your body and go into a state of Depression allowing these yellow skinned cowards to conquer us. Yup, I really do believe it, but how did they manage to make my wedding band shrink???

A Few More Pictures

Again Grandpa Struck comes through and shares with us the following pictures. It truly is amazing that most white babies do look like Winston Churchill.
And through the magic of video conferencing, yes they are small.


Doesn't he look like Winston?

Caden Heath Struck

After about thirteen hours of labor Erin decided to bring into our world a "Whopper". Caden, as he is called, weighed in at eight pounds four ounces not a big baby for many people but Erin normally weighs about 105 pounds. This would be the equivalent of me passing a large watermelon, not a pleasant thought. Mother and child are doing great and will be discharged from the hospital on Thursday. The Madge is also doing well and pulled through this birth like a champ, many close calls but she is hanging in there.
Hey, just got this in from Grandpa Struck.

Happy Mothers Day

It is Mothers Day for another 32 minutes and about one hour ago we had a call from Erin saying that she is on her way to the Hospital. So here we sit waiting for "THE CALL". It was very exciting to be here when we got the call that her water broke. The Madge's water broke too. It's going to be a very long night.

How Long Can You Hold Your Breath

We are sitting around the house waiting for daughter number two to call saying that she is in labor. "The Madge" has our suitcases already packed, so all we will do is load up the family truckster with luggage and Cooper and head to Frisco Texas. She is due on the May 16th but she called today saying that if she hasn't gone into labor by the 13th they will induce. Hold off on everything; golf lessons, pool construction, and doctors. I better have the car filled up daily as we won't want a "pit stop" on the way up there. I haven't been told how long we will be staying but by the amount of luggage she has packed I think we will be there until Thanksgiving. We are both real excited, as are the parents, for this will be our local grandchild. Erin plans on taking a few months off from work and has already told me that she plans on coming here to relax. Does that mean she sleeps and "The Madge" gets up for the 2 o'clock feedings??? Be ready in a few weeks for tons of pictures.

Let the Games Begin

We started the bidding on our pool. Spent three hours at the first of three companies we are thinking of using. I made many changes to the proposed plan which I am sure equals additional dollars. "The Madge" evidently asked for a Tanning Platform to be built in the pool, along with Spa, cascading water falls, beach entry, remote controls for everything including the lights, and "dancing" water features. Now why would anyone want a Tanning Platform? You will either get skin cancer or age twenty five years per summer. When I asked if she REALLY wanted these things her answer was "The kids will enjoy them". I wonder if there will be room to actual use the pool?

"The Madge" Strikes Again

Monday I went over to Home Depot with “The Madge” to buy a ceiling fan and a few other things. Now every guy knows that when you go to Lowe’s or Home Depot you have to buy things that MAY be necessary around the house within the next ten years. It took her 30 minutes to pick a fan out and it that same amount of time I “hit” 11 aisles and filled up our basket with "down the road" useful things. I was disappointed though as I could not find a hand drill operated pump to drain our birdbath (a very very important item).

"The Madge" had another golf lesson and this time came home with suggested golf clubs that the Pro says would suit her. I called around and found some for $900 which is just the irons, and still looking for the woods. Now I don't mind getting her these BUT this is a girl that has had a total of 24 days of private ski lessons and still can't ski. She finally told me that she is afraid of heights, so if you plan on skiing in Houston no problem but I think you need a mountain or two to get the full effect. I do not believe there is a big rush on the clubs.

Mel's amd Sushi

Saturday night we met Kathy, Dave, Jill, Alexis and the Hulk for dinner at Mel's. Mel's is one of the reasons that Houston has been called "The Fat City" of America. Mel's is located in a rundown area of Tomball, Texas just over the railroad tracks on Standolin Road. When one is driving down the street you can't help but wondering if "Am I in the right place?". You let out a sigh of relief when you come up to a clearing that is filled with pick up trucks, lots of higher priced cars and a few Harleys. The Food Is Great. The first time we went there "The Madge" asked what kind of wine do they have? The waitress said, "We have white, red and rose" I wonder if they are homemade. Check out the Mega Mel Burger and try to imagine someone polishing this baby off in nine minutes (the record).
Now after destroying our bodies at Mel's "The Madge", myself, invited Colleen and Mark to go to the Redfish Restaurant for a little sushi Sunday night. We've been there before but never ordered the raw stuff. A normal Roll has six pieces and when one orders sashimi it is by the piece. Nope not in Texas. The Rolls had either 10 or 12 pieces and "one" order of sashima is two pieces. Pretty simple, I ordered for four people but received enough food for eight. The table was not big enough to handle our order.
So it's back to veggies and fruit, can't wait till Saturday.