Matt, Ben, and Mike

Hi everyone,

Well, with Doug's instructions sent out, my last excuse for not blogging really is gone, isn't it? (Well, frankly, I should have done it before now anyway, since Google offered me a tutorial when I signed up, but I didn't do it.) I though I would share some pics from this past weekend, when Ben and Mike and I attended the D&D Experience, a gaming convention in Fort Wayne, Indiana, about 2 hours drive southeast of South Bend. Amy stayed home in a blissfully quiet home, while I stayed in a hotel room with siblings trying to outdo one another even in their sleep, as they competed for loudest snores. The convention had lots of roleplaying and "minis" gaming (using plastic figures of monsters that battle on the tabletop, a game we've been playing for a couple of years). The highlight of the weekend came when we got to playtest a roleplaying module for a company called Goodman Games. Mike blundered down a dark corridor, fell in a pit, and was nearly fried by a firebelching,mobile plant creature. The DM decided he might need to change that part of the module. He plans to put our names in the published module as playtesters, much to the boys' delight. In the pic below, Ben is in the white sweatshirt.

Another Country Heard From!

Way to go, Lisa! The preceding post (scroll down for earlier content--it's the opposite of print) represents the first contribution from a family member located East of the Mississippi! Now, let's add to that diversity with a little more news! Birmingham? South Bend? Massillon? Cleveland? Hanover? Naples? Elsewhere in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area (which would include, say, the Central West End and certain communities in Illinois?)

For the edification of all, here's a photograph of some petroglyphs in Utah. They're about a thousand years old. Probably pecked into the stone to assure a successful hunt. Looks like it's big horned sheep for dinner! (Upper right.)

News From the Mount Vernon Schotts!

Dear Family,

As an expression of my gratitude to you for undertaking this thoughtful, loving blogsite for us'n Dowds, Doug, I thought I'd try my first ever blog post. Looks like the photo is working...we'll see how it goes... I'll be brief on this first foray. The Mount Vernon Schotts are pictured in front of theTetons in Wyoming where we visited Lee (second from right) this past summer. He spent his second summer working at Signal Mountain Lodge in the park. Steven (second from left as you probably figured out!) had his summer off from teaching in N. Carolina and was able to join us which was a great treat for us since it's rare when we can all be together these days. Steven will complete his Teach for America experience in June and then plans to attend law school. He's just started hearing on his apps. Lee graduates from OWU in May and then who knows?! Stu and I are well and send you all warmest wishes for a grand 2009. Love, Lisa

'Ello, Family!

Dear Family, 

Danny Dowd here.  I write to wish you all a happy almost New Year's Eve and to give you an update on the status of the "Desert Dowds".  We're having a marvelous time, and though it is unusually cold here (below freezing all the time), we remain active.  Dad is planning some big westward jaunt to celebrate the new year, accompanied, of course, by a hike.  As of now, I am the only one up, though I suspect Mom and Dad aren't too far off (Drew is waiting for the next ice age to arise.)  The morning quiet is wonderful, and though I'm listening to my iPod on and off, it feels very peaceful.  The sun rises at about seven thirty here, which is really throwing off my internal clock.  I must echo my paternal progenitor and encourage all to contribute to this blog/website thing.  I love you all, and hope to see you all soon.  Granddad, how's it feel to be approaching octogenarianhood?  With myself just into my twenties, I feel some odd sort of kinship, though I realize we are in slightly different situations.  Daniel Osborne Dowd now signs off and hopes for great things for the new year for all concerned.

Love,

Danny

Mountain Man

Christmas Eve, Moab, UT

On Christmas Eve, we hiked to Delicate Arch, one of the quintessential formations of Arches National Park, just outside Moab.    A friend of mine, Mother Margaret Neil, wrote earlier in the day reminding me, "The Christ Mass is almost here.  Keep a moment to remember the candle."  So we lit candles in this splendid natural space and thanked God for the light of Christ.  

Wishing you peace, joy and happiness this Christmas season.

Christmas Day

As most of the Dowd clan knows, the St. Louis Dowds (thats me) are in Moab, Utah for the holidays. Today was Christmas, and we had a great time. After the presents and a great breakfast, my brother Dan and I headed out for a little afternoon hike.

We went to Hidden Valley, a hike which is decievingly difficult. At the trail head, it looked as though we would hike through a gap in the rocks, but as it turned out, that was not the plan. We hiked straight up the bluff, about 900 feet of zig-zagging "trail" (I use that word lightly, as it was more of the path of least resistance, and less of a trail). Anyway, it was a great hike to burn off some of the ham and potatoes from Christmas Eve dinner. Here a few photos from the trailhead looking back. I regret that I never took a picture of the bluff we climbed, and I didnt bring my camera with me on the hike.