Well, nobody has a family like that. It takes longer than an hour or two including commercials to solve the latest family crisis. In the case of the Hinkle family, things went OK. They had to wait, and then wait, and wait some more for Ashley Pothast to get home before they could eat. At 2 pm, they sat down to noon vittles. Then someone tried to Walton up the meal by going around the table telling the assembled company what they were thankful for. It was corny, and interestingly enough, even the person who thought up the exercise didn't want to do it, but nobody died.

Then it was eating time. The feast was excellent, and as always, plenty of leftovers. Some by their own admission ate too much, but Jerry Hinkle managed to get by with only one plate full of food. For the pre-dessert walk, Noel Pothast suggested a stroll around the Capitol Christmas Tree display rather than to walk outside. It was so cold outside that the eternal flame was just a cloud of steam.

Jerry was able to get all of his last years Christmas Credit from Walmart spent. He got another hour of Tracfone time, and a gold watch. He only spent $9.87, but it was appraised at $200 (by Brittany Hinkle, who could either work for "Antiques Road Kill" or the Property Tax Assessment division of the South Dakota State Government). He also threw in a couple 2 liter bottles of soda, which forced him to put up 35 cents of his own cash.

Thanksgiving 2006 is over! Now comes the Christmas Rush! HO HO HO!

Ilah May Hansen, 92, of Forest City, died Wednesday Nov. 22, 2006 at the Good Samaritan Center in Forest City. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 27, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City with the Rev. Lee Laaveg officiating. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, 505 N. Clark St., Forest City. Graveside service will be at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, at the Platte Cemetery in Platte, S.D. Visitation will be from noon until 1 p.m. at the Platte Funeral Chapel in Platte, S.D. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Forest City Good Samaritan Center or the Platte Cemetery Association. Ilah May (Beltman) Hansen was born in Platte, S.D., on May 25, 1914, the oldest of three daughters of John and Bertha (Muller) Beltman. She was baptized and confirmed in the Platte Christian Reformed Church and married Clarence Otto Hansen of Platte on Jan. 8, 1936. In 1946, along with Clarence, she helped start and manage the Platte Airport in Platte, S.D. She worked at Graff’s Grocery and DeBoer’s (K&K) Grocery in Platte, was the manager of the Bake Shop for Safeway Foods in Rapid City, S.D., and crafted for Mary’s Curiosity Shop in Forest City. She was an avid gardener, enjoyed doing crafts, knitting, quilting and crocheting, playing the piano and accordion, baking breads and making pies, and loved to read and write poetry. Ilah was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran church, serving on the Alter Guild as Communion Chair for many years, and was a member of a Women’s Circle and WELCA (Women of the Evangelical Church in America). Her community groups included the Forest City Birthday Club, 20th Century Club and the Federated Come-a-long Club and she held many offices for each of them. Ilah is survived by two children: Ken (Joan) Hansen, of Forest City; Verla (Ron) Kamykowski of Stickney, Ill.; five grandchildren: Glenn (Crystal) Kamykowski, of Lyons, Ill.; Kristi (Jim) Teolis, of Stickney, Ill.; Susan (Greg) Geitzenauer, of Eden Prairie, Minn.; Kevin (Jamie) Hansen, of St. Paul, Minn.; and Annette Hansen, of Mason City; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; by Clarence, her husband of 67 years; and her sister, Marvel Patterson-Cavanaugh, of York, Pa.
Robin Sparkles on "How I Met Your Mother"

One of the best shows on the CBS Comedy line-up is "How I Met Your Mother". Last Monday It was discovered that when Robin was a teenager, she was Canadian Pop Star "Robin Sparkles". She had just the right combination of Debbie Gibson and Tiffany for 1993. Get a load of the music video that was part of last weeks episode. All of us here at the Holabird Advocate take back everything bad that we've ever said about Canada. This is an excellent video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mJAsgIIfNM&mode=user&search

Well, I guess it's time to end the speculation and let you, the Readers, in on my plan for next year, vis a vis DWU. I have applied to Dakota Wesleyan as a Religious Studies major with minor in Theater.

It is my intention to at least dabble in Political Science and look into Entrepreneur program as well. This class gives each student $100 and turns them loose on the world to make a profit. It will be interesting to see if my experience with Market America was time well spent. From that company, I learned that there are 3 recession proof products, the 3 Cs. Those being Candy, Cigarettes, and Cosmetics. Grandad will come back down to Earth and walk around my dorm room all night if I sell cigarettes. The Pink Caddy girls would pitch a fit if I sold make-up. I may have to become the Candy Man of Cornfield County!

I have yet to be accepted into DWU. Right now the plan is to take a tour of the University sometime this next week. Most likely Tuesday after the Ilah Hansen funeral. If I am not accepted, I have been invited to apply at Waldorf College. Nice to know I have a choice! I could always get a job putting wheels on Winnebago Motor Homes!