Local Family Finally Online!
The Menningen Times
Christmas 2000    Better Late Than Never Edition    150 m¢
Ken & Laura Menningen    164 N Franklin St, Whitewater, WI 53190-1317    (262) 473-8876    menningens@charter.net
Wagon Wanders About
New van shuttles family here and there
By Jack Hittdarode
Of the Times staff

A recently acquired Ford Club Wagon came in handy for one Wisconsin family last winter as they ventured over the interstate system to Telford, PA (near Philadelphia) and, on a separate trip, to the Amana Colonies near Iowa City, IA. Ken and Laura Menningen of Whitewater first went in January 2000 to visit Laura's sister Lisa Ueda, her husband Kaz, and their two kids, Taira and Megumi. The couple also brought along their three children, Alex, Nathan, and Carolyn.

After a two day trip, including some enjoyable time in a hotel swimming pool, the family arrived on New Year's Eve in time to drive over to New York City and welcome in the New Year at Times Square, had they not been sufficiently travel-worn already and not quite adventuresome enough to brave a crowd of over 1 million in downtown NY. Instead they rung in the New Year peacefully in Telford and later made several day trips, including The Franklin Institute (science museum), Hershey's Chocolate World, Washington's Crossing, and the mall at Washington, DC, especially the National Air and Space Museum (NASM), a favorite destination for six-year-old Alex.

Two years ago this newspaper broke the story on the Menningen's trip to Telford in their Taurus and how they vowed to fly the next time. When asked to comment on the matter Mr. Menningen replied, "I do not recall ever saying that. Driving in a van is much more pleasant anyways. The kids have a better view, the ride is quieter, and I can toss grapes out the driver's window and into passing cars if their window is open. It passes the time." The family ventured a second voyage in March when they met their good friends, the Andersons from Topeka, KS, at the Amana Colonies in Iowa. The two families relaxed, encouraged each other, and enjoyed the shops and sights of the Colonies. The Menningens also visited the Charlier family in Iowa City, swimming in a hotel pool and sharing food and conversation. Then it was time to head back home with fond memories of their journeys together.


Pool Play The family enjoyed the hotel pool and later a great breakfast.

Huge Hubble A full-size model of the Hubble Space Telescope at the National Air and Space Museum is as large as a school bus! You can barely make out Laura holding Carolyn at the bottom of the photo.

Dolphin Duplicator Alex does his best to imitate a dolphin... sort of. The right hand is supposed to be a pectoral fin and I have no idea what the left hand is doing with his pants...		 Airline Adventure
Father and son ride the skies to sunny Florida
by Lois T. Luhgage
Special to the Times

Ken Menningen and his son enjoyed a rare adventure when they boarded a jet in May 2000 to fly to Miami on their way to Key Largo, FL, where Alex's grandmother lives. There the two northerners bathed at the beach, hiked the hummocks, and saw the sights. Ken was ecstatic after snorkeling a real coral reef. Alex especially enjoyed a dolphin show. Grandma had a blast showing them around. Dining on yellowtail snapper while taking in the sunset at an oceanside restaurant is an especially fond memory. The only disappointment came when they were unable to view the space shuttle launch from their vantage point 270 miles away. There was some difficulty adjusting to the warmth. "Why did we bring these mittens, anyways?" wondered Ken. The snowpants did make a fine flotation device for Alex, however.
Ideal Ibis Here's a pretty good photo of an ibis (I think - could be a crane) at a bird sanctuary in Key Largo that Alex and I visited. You were allowed to get very close to the birds as they rehabilitated from various injuries. A very interesting place!

Pennekamp Paradise A lovely scene at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo. Most of the park is under water! This is a view from near the concession stand. I can't remember if Alex took this picture or not; at the time he was rather preoccupied with an ice cream treat!

Cute Kids Wonderman with his sidekick go forth to conquer the Evil Lord of Entropy. Quick, make the bed! Pick up the toys! Organize!		 Skills and Schools
Youngsters learn a lot
by Hardy Knox
special to the Times

A local boy and his family did a lot of learning together this year. Alex Menningen displayed an uncanny memory as he continued the homeschool studies he began last year. He started a new first grade curriculum in September and can now read quite well, write short paragraphs, and add and subtract. "Alex's progress is truly encouraging. I'm certain we can begin teaching him homogeneous differential equations next month!" commented his father Ken. But Alex has been learning more than just academics. In the year 2000 he has learned rudimentary gymnastics skills, has participated in swimming lessons, has learned to ride his bike proficiently, and can play the card game "Go Fish!" His 3-year-old brother Nathan has joined him in limited fashion in both school work and swimming lessons. His 21-month-old sister Carolyn has learned numerous ways to attract attention to herself. There are some more family photos here.
Another cutie Carolyn just sits there and goes along for the ride! She's a very portable girl.
Inside This Issue

Professor to earn tenure / 1C
Adoption plans on hold / 3D
Family friend succombs to cancer / 1B
Research rocket snaps photo / 3C
Van collides with tree; minor damage / 1E
Mouse and Motorcycle makes record run / 1F

4 Day Key Largo, FL Weather Forecast
Thursday
72°F/ 52°F
Sunny but bitterly cold at night		   Friday
78°F/ 64°F
Partly cloudy with a good chance of lawyers early		 Saturday
80°F/ 68°F
Cloudy, dimpled chad turning over to full ballots by evening		 Sunday
78°F/ 68°F
Hot air with fresh lawsuits likely late
Community Calendar
Monday: Carolyn will hold a clinic on chair climbing techniques. Bring your own safety gear.

Tuesday: Alex will show how to build a working half-scale model of the space shuttle out of Legos. Launch at 4pm weather permitting.

Wednesday: Nathan will lecture on the relative merits of bulldozers and excavators. Sandbox workshop to follow.

Thursday: Carolyn will demonstrate how applying the principles of chair climbing can produce large juice spills.

Friday: Alex will don his Wonderman costume and battle the Evil Lord of Entropy at 10am. At 1pm he'll return as Superman and give pointers on brother tackling skills.

Saturday: Nathan and Alex will debate each other in a presentation entitled, Nate the Great Meets the Berenstain Bears: What's Next for Children's Literature?

Sunday: Carolyn will hold a workshop entitled, Sloppy Showers: My Secret Toilet Splashing Sessions.
Molasses Mends
Repairs go slowly
by Nalen Hammer
of the Times staff

Local resident Ken Menningen has been slowly repairing his house. Among other projects, a new sandbox was installed and the dining room walls were painted. Despite the lack of significant progress, bystanders admit he does look cool in his new tool belt. When asked to estimate the completion date for all his home repair projects, Ken said, "Augh! Quick, hand me more patching plaster!"
Fixits Fizzle Ken finishes one of 792 pending projects on his property.		 Sickened Spouse
Temporary syndrome slows local homemaker
by Heyda Storck
Special to the Times

A local household engineer has been diagnosed with a common ailment sometimes referred to as EM syndrome. Laura Menningen of Whitewater has been dealing with the symptoms of the syndrome (nausea, fatigue, enhanced hunger) for several weeks. "This condition is fairly common and usually untreatable but, fortunately, it is always temporary. Symptoms usually clear up in about nine months," said Dr. Nancy Nohsitall from the local hospital. Mrs. Menningen's doctor is closely monitoring the situation and assures the public that her condition is not contagious and should resolve itself by midsummer 2001.
The Menningen Family
wishes everyone a
Joyous and Blessed
 CHRISTMAS!






Notes and Minor Stories

 


After delaying the inevitable for as long as possible, we finally arranged for internet access at home in August 2000. We found a pretty good deal at Powercom.net, a Beaver Dam outfit that also provides long distance telephone service. They offered a combo package that was too good to pass up!



 


You can still see our Christmas 1999 letter or even our Christmas 1998 letter if you wish.



 


Better Late than Never!

We're always late with our Christmas letters. This year we got most of them sent before Christmas Day... our apologies to those who didn't receive them in time!



 


Hampton Breakfast

We stayed at a Hampton Inn near Cleveland, OH both times, and were quite impressed by the hotel. They serve a continental breakfast that beats every other hotel, in terms of quality, quantity, and choices, that we've ever seen. We stayed at another Hampton Inn in Iowa City and got more of the same excellent service. A very good value even if it isn't the cheapest hotel on the block.



 


Professor to earn tenure

Professor Ken Menningen of the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Deparment of Physics has applied for tenure after five years of service at UWW. The initial committee evalutation was quite favorable although a final decision to award tenure will not be made until later in 2001.



 


Adoption plans on hold

Earlier in the year many of you were aware that we initiated the process to adopt a Haitian orphan through Precious in HIS Sight who had to have his left eye removed. We felt the Lord was leading us to give this boy a home because we had previously dealt with our son's eye problems. But it turns out another family was able to reserve him ahead of us and we trust he has already found a loving home somewhere in the US. At this time our plans to adopt an international orphan are on hold.



 


Pastor and friend dies of cancer

David K. Anderson, a dear friend of the Menningens and previous pastor of Whitewater Bible Church, died of skin cancer on October 27, 2000. He is surely rejoicing now because he knows the promise of eternal life through his Savior (and ours) Jesus Christ. Are you sure you're going to heaven? David is survived by his wife Eidene and his two daughters, Corrie and Bethamy. Please pray for them as the relocate to Raymore, MO and seek the Lord's will there.



 


Rocket snaps photo

Uncle Mike generously gave Ken Menningen an Astrocam rocket, capable of taking a picture at the peak of its flight using a miniature 110 camera. Only one photo has turned out so far, and you can see it here. Most of the other pictures seemed to be pointing the wrong way, obscured by smoke, or both!



 


Van collides with tree

In an unfortunate incident on December 16, 2000, a tree leaped off the side of a narrow country lane and dented the Menningen's family van, smashing a rear window. No one was hurt. Repairs are planned in the immediate future.



 


The Mouse and the Motorcycle wins rave reviews

One of the most popular videos in the Menningen household this year has been The Mouse and the Motorcycle, a well-produced claymation video depicting a story written by Beverly Clearly. It is a good choice for parents of young children. Also popular were the videos Babe, Astronauts, and any of the Wallace and Gromit series.






Ken Menningen
menningens@charter.net
Last Update: 12/25/00