LIZ GETS PRIZED JOB AT TEMPLE UNIVERSITY IN PHILADELPHIA!!!

WKN!: Are you ready to go on the Record?

LIZ: Yes I am!

WKN!: So whats up?

LIZ: Well, I found out that I passed my Comprehensive Exams for my master's program AND I accepted a full-time job all in the past four days!

WKN!: where?

LIZ: At Temple University in Philadelphia - It was my top choice of jobs and I'm so exciting to move to this city!

WKN!: On behalf of Witwer Kids Now I want to wish you a wholehearted CONGRATS! Describe the job.

LIZ: Thank you so much!! Well my title is Program Director for Leadership Development Programs
I'll be responsible for the overall management, development, and assessment of their comprehensive leadership program, named the Student Leadership Program
Here's the website to learn all about it! http://www.temple.edu/studentleadershipchallenge/challenge.htm

WKN!: So when do you start and where are you going to live and all that?

LIZ: t's a newly created position as well; currently a committee of Temple faculty and student affairs educators coordinatte aspects of the program, so there is much growth, opportunity, and potential for this position!
My start date is June 2nd, and at the moment I am not 100% sure where I'll be living right away
My supervisor, the Associate Dean of Students, is currently looking into solidifying temporary housing for me in a 2-bedroom residence hall apartment on campus until I find the best long-term place for myself
I've been talking to lots of friends familiar with Philly and I think I want to live in Center City and just take the subway to work every day. I am really just relishing in the moment right now...cherishing my last days of grad school and friends here at Miami...It's been a really special two years, for which I am very thankful

WKN!: Wow that sounds so great! What does it feel like to have "arrived"?

LIZ: "Arrived?" You mean a place where things seem to just feel "right"?

WKN!: I don't know

LIZ: Most definitely...Oh I know! I just feel such a state of peace and gratitude right now I've let go so much past pain, and now just see abundance and beauty in life now

WKN!: So where were you earlier this evening?

LIZ: Oh, well I was at my favorite restaurant in town, Kona Bistro, with three of my great friends celebrating passing our comprehensive exams and my job! I just took Vi there when she came to visit and Mom and Dad have been there many times

WKN!: so lets play some word association

LIZ: Hahaha I thought you'd never ask! Oh but first... Per your request I am going to send a picture of me celebrating It was taken the night I got the call that I passed Comprehensive Exams
with my roommate and two other friends
and you must note in the caption that you can see my Indiana voter absentee ballot in the background (by accident) Which could be the deciding vote on who will be the Democratic Candidate AND the next president!
(just a side note under the caption)

WKN!: Who is favored in Indiana?

LIZ: It's a toss-up - It's in Obama country (25% Hoosiers watch Chicago TV), but Sen. Bayh is campaigning heavy for Clinton.

WKN!: why would a good man do such a thing?

LIZ: You know he endorsed her way back in September I think...and a lot has changed since then...but Bayh's a good man nonetheless. But it's hard to talk politics "on the record" ya know?

WKN!: I think thats the only way to talk politics. But lets do some word association: Job:

LIZ: Temple

WKN!: Philly:

LIZ: Brotherly Love

WKN!: Temple

LIZ: Leadership

WKN!: Position

LIZ: Director Sorry, am I boring? haha

WKN!: Graduate

LIZ: Degree

WKN!: Yesss!!!

LIZ: The arm motion associated with that
(you know what I mean, with the fist?)

WKN!: Temple Job

LIZ: The right fit

WKN!: Middle East

LIZ: Temple Job!

WKN!: War and Poverty

LIZ: Temple Job!

WKN!: Okay well so much for that....Is today one of the happiest days of your life and did you find out today?

LIZ: Well today I just have this incredible peace/gratitude feeling - one of my friend's at dinner interrupted the conversation tonight to say "Liz, you just look really happy right now." and all I was doing was listening to my other friend speak
I actually was offered the job on Friday morning, but officially accepted the position this morning...I just needed to have it soak in

WKN!: Well I'm very happy and you'll have to come down and visit since Philly is like 2 hours from Rockville, also I need you to reccomend that your female students go out with me. Cool?

LIZ: HAHA, well not my students, but hopefully I'll make some great friends and introduce you!!

WKN!: sweet! Well do you have anything to tell the family in closing?

LIZ: Yes, can I share a quote that's really resonating with me right now?

WKN!: go ahead

LIZ: "The adventure of life is to learn. The goal of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The secret of life is to dare. The beauty of life is to give. The joy of life is to love." William Arthur Ward - I think that pretty much says it all

WKN!: Awesome!

Uncle Richard Goes On The Record!!!

(above Richard in Philly with Obama volunteers last week)

WKN!: Okay Dad are you ready to go on the record with WKN?

Richard: Yup

WKN!: So first of all happy belated birthday. Did you ever think you'd live this long?

Richard:I never doubted it, except on the few occasions when you or your brother nearly gave me a heart attack.

WKN!: haha, my bad. But on to more substantive issues...there are three people in the running for the president now. What kind of skills and character traits are important for the next president to have? Who of the three has the most of them in your view?

Richard: I start from the premise that all of the three principal candidates -- despite what may sound like significant differences during the campaign -- would basically want to do some of the same things -- address the more egregious inequities in the health care system, help us find a way to move to a better position vis a vis the Arab world, try to reverse our ballooning federal deficit. Congress will act as a buffer to prevent any "radical" moves to the left or right. So the question then becomes: What makes a president effective? How can a president get important things done?
I believe the key is to have enough popular support to motivate Congress to go along with his/her basic agenda. That's why Reagan was able to get a lot of Democats in Congress to accept tax cuts, military build-up, etc.
With that as my premise, I believe Obama would be the best president because enough Republicans would cut him slack in Congress and not fight him at every turn. That would not be the case with Hillary. And while I wouldn't
expect Congress to go along with any "too liberal" ideas, they would accept reasonable reforms.

WKN!: And I suppose this is why you went to Philly to volunteer for Obama. What was that like?

Richard: For a C-SPAN junkie like me, it was a lot of fun -- getting knee deep in the political process. I had never canvassed for a candidate before. And there was something very exciting about being around so many enthusiastic young people.

WKN!: So other than being able to get his agenda passed in congress, what else makes you think Obama will serve as a good president? What about all of the Controversy surrounding him?

Richard: Other good things: I do believe his (albeit somewhat tarnished) "rock star" appeal to younger voters is very positive in drawing more people into the elections. I also believe he could help our image abroad -- although he would need to follow up his rhetoric and image with concrete deeds to make that stick. And on the race relations issue -- I think he could be a catalyst to help a lot of white folks -- those who aren't allowing themselves to be "swift boated" by the Jeremiah Wright sound bites -- to broaden their horizons a bit.

WKN! Well I like him because he plays basketball

Richard: I'm glad you're not a bowler.

WKN! So tell us about your exercise routine these days? Could you take on Aunt Vi or Chuck in running?

Richard: Only if they had to carry you on their backs. My "running" is only on a treadmill. And I alternate with swimming; I haven't really been pressing myself; just trying to stay in basic shape with an average daily workout.

WKN! And then after your morning physical workout, you have your C-span workout. Tell us a little bit about your love of the Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network and how you got into it

Richard: Working from home and having some flexibility in my schedule makes it easier to check out C-span than would be possible if I worked out of a conventional office. I just have a lot of curiosity about public affairs topics, and find the conventional news broadcasts too superficial at best, or cynically manipulative at worst. I like hearing directly from either the decisionmakers themselves, or true experts on a given subject. That's how I can learn, because I probably know as much as the typical TV reporter on many of the subjects that interest me.

WKN! Tell us more about your life and what's going on with you...What are you looking forward to near and long term.. What phase of life are you in...etc

Richard: Near term, going to bed. Intermediate term: Going to Italy with the Housholders and the "Ciao" group. Longer term: Continuing to enjoy my work, but balancing it with fun things like travel and reading, plus perhaps expanding on some of the social service things I do (along the lines of my role at the homeless shelter). Maybe tutor a young kid who's struggling in school.

WKN! Okay well I won't keep you too much longer from bedtime afterall it is already 9:43. What words of advice do you have for the cousins and also what do you see the greatest challenge of the cousins' generation?

Richard: Advice: Find happiness without leading a self-indulgent or cloistered life.
Greatest challenge: I do seem to be developing the perspective that "old" people tend to get -- that things are going down hill in the U.S. Partly it's due to our own actions or decline in moral standards and work ethic. It's also due to other countries (especially China and India) working harder and smarter than ever, giving us a run for our money economically. The challenge is to help keep the U.S. strong, without resorting to protectionism, isolationism, ethno-centrism, which are self-defeating and limiting. The challenge is to accept people with different world views, religions, etc. without becoming adrift. The challenge is also to stay committed to being of service, staying alive intellectually and not becoming lazy or complacent. But these are universal challenges, not just for the next generation...

WKN! I see. Well how about a few parting words

Richard: OK: I think I've said enough. How about: Good bye!

WKN! okay thanks. Oh, I borrowed some black socks yesterday I'll give them back next week.

Richard Releases B-sides From his Old Band "Clear Fog"

Simon ponders coiffures!

WKN! was on special assignment in Bergen and caught a rare glimse into Simon Dankel's attemps at new hairstyles. Our paparazzi photograph caught these recent pix:

Catching up with Dorkafish!

WKN!: Okay......could you please spell out your full name date of birth and city of birth
Dorothy: Dorothy Jane Dankel July 26, 1979
WKN!: What do you think of the Smashing Pumpkins song called 1979?
Dorothy: It's one of my fav songs by them
WKN!: What was it like having that cool room while all the other siblings had crappy rooms growing up?
Dorothy: great! I got to listen to music and put up cool posters of the Cranberries plus I got a Nerf B-ball hoop and pretendied I was Shaq!
WKN!: Do you think they were jealous or had any resentments on the issue?
Dorothy: umm, probably, but Paul, for example, got the room when I moved out plus I think Liz and Catherine were glad to get rid of me in their room (I gotta go meet Simon & James for dinner/movie in 4 min!)
WKN!: Okay I'm going to ask you do do some word association now
Dorothy: ok, I think that's fun
WKN!: yeardly
Dorothy: nerdy
WKN!: saucey
Dorothy: potato
WKN!: mop bucket
Dorothy: clean
WKN!: dandercare
Dorothy:dandelion
WKN!: eyepaste
Dorothy: tooth
WKN!: flogboss
Dorothy: floss (geez a lot of bathroom things!)
WKN!: sneezechoo
Dorothy: kleenex
WKN!: crescent
Dorothy: croissant (yum!!)
WKN!: crescent fresh
Dorothy: what's their name, SIFFLE & OZZY!
WKN!: Liz
Dorothy: Fizz
WKN!: Juice train
Dorothy: soul train
WKN!: bloodfood
Dorothy: boobtube
WKN!: sneeze-scab
Dorothy: Deathcab
WKN!: haha okay now just send me a picture and leave us with some final words...
Dorothy: Can't wait for Lucy's wedding!!
WKN!: what are you so busy with recently by the way??
Dorothy: Google me for a pic, I gotta run!! Doing my application for money to live in Woods Hole this Miss you! Ciao!
WKN!:ok thanx have a nice dinner and tell everyone I said hi
Dorothy: ok! bye!

Catherine is Cleaning Up Her Act!

Peter: Okay! So now what we're going to do is....I'm going to type a word and your gonna type the first word that comes to mind. It's called word-association.
Cacko: Yes. I am ready!
Peter: Okay...just type whatever you first think of don't analyze it or deviate from your instinct.
Cacko: No worries. I will turn off my brain.
Peter: just one word answers please
Cacko: I actually do not have any pink clothes. I look terrible in pink!
Cacko: Celular
Peter: latebreeder
Cacko: dog
I am doing this very quickly. I hope no one analyzes this!
Peter: Skin game
Cacko: Nintendo
Peter: Binky the Bish
Cacko: cochroaches
We have cochroaches in my house in Salto, Uruguay.
Peter: seesaw
Cacko: children
Peter: Vidbox
Cacko: Botox
Peter: Chester
Cacko: the cat
Peter: voodoo
Cacko: witches
I think this is sort of silly, Peter.
Peter: market fresh
Cacko: sandwich
Peter: freshness in a bag
Cacko: ziplock
Which we do not have here...
Peter: "stinkleton fresh zip stride"
Cacko: rubbish
Peter: Skin flake
Cacko: cetaphil
Peter: Chicago smell
Cacko: gas
Peter: dirty Kendallville
Cacko: pigs
Oops. Maybe I should not have said that.
Peter: Dork
Cacko: Dolly
Peter: Okay
Cacko: ¿Es todo?
Peter: wizzard of Oz
Cacko: green witch
Peter: plants
Cacko: health
Peter: mean
Cacko: I need to eat more plants cruel
Peter: well anyways
Cacko: Is that all?
Peter: you have anythign you want to address about Uruguayan sanitation standards?
Cacko: They are generally comparable to Chilean standards.
Peter: that bad eh?
Cacko: Uruguayans tend to flush the toilet paper down the toilet, but Chileans do not They tend to throw it away.
Peter: why are they so disgusting in your view?
Cacko: I do not know what you are talking about.
Peter: So now tell your fans a little bit about your lifestyle these days...what is it like being "Cacko?" in Uruguay??
Cacko: Actually, most Chileans and Uruguayans call me "Cati" because it is easier to pronounce. "Catherine" can trip up tongues. I am living with two other Fulbrighters, Elizabeth and Marylin.
Elizabeth reminds me a lot of Liz! Marylin is from Honduras.
Peter: ARE THEY HOT?
Cacko: Well, Salto can get pretty steamy in the summer. But it is fall not, so not really.
Peter: NO...THOSE CHICKS...ARE THEY HOT?
Cacko: Peter, even if you did seduce them, they are not interested in long-distance relationships. I'm sorry.
Peter: what is your favorite form of Uruguayan entertainment?
Cacko: Mate. Or murgas.
Peter: what is that?
Cacko: Mate is a type of tea that Uruguayans drink all day long. They drink it at home in the morning, at school, at work, at night ... and they often sit around and share mate with friends in parks and things.
Murgas are a kind of "anti-establishment" theater.
We went to one last Friday, and it was a little boring because we were so cold and could not understand much.
You should look it up on wikipedia.
Peter: okay will do. What are your basic plans for the next two years?
Cacko: Well, I will be in Salto, Uruguay for until July 1. Then I move to Montevideo to continue the Fulbright until November.
Then I want to head home for Thanksgiving and possibly Christmas before flying back to Chile. I want to study in Chile before applying for a doctorate in political science. Wish me luck! That is it.
Peter: what about Lucy's wedding?
Cacko: Oh yes. I plan on going to Lucy´s wedding in August with Diego!
Peter: I think we should make a movie there...like a 20 minute short
that has suspense and drama!
Cacko: Oh I am up for that! Something short would be good.
I will probably be there for a maximum of one week, so I probably do not want to spend all of my time working on the film.
But I agree that we should try it.
Peter: Awesome. What do you want to say to your family for this blog entry?
Cacko: I am very happy, and I am learning a lot! I am learning a lot therefore I am happy! And of course I send hugs, kisses and love from Uruguay!
Peter: okay awesome thanks for your time can u send this to me because I don't seem to be able to cut and paste from this window also send me a pic
Cacko: ok

DIEGO!,DIEGO!,DIEGO!

Diego Henry Reyes López, 23 of Santiago de Chile, ran the annual Santiago Marathon on Sunday, April 6. Diego's official time was 3:28 minutes, meaning he averaged about 7.7 minute miles.


The race began and ended in front of La Moneda, the Chilean presidential palace. Diego had to endure 42 kilómetros terrain in order to complete the race. He placed 68 out of a few hundred competitors in his age category: 20-39. 12,000 people ran the race, but only 1,000 ran the full marathon (26.6 miles or 42 kilometers).

The unevenness of the marathon route was 160 meters. The runners therefore had to run 160 meters up over a 21 kilometer distance.


Diego hopes to run more marathons in the future.


"I would like to thank the beautiful Catherine, God and my family: They all motivate me to do everything with perseverance!" tells WKN!.

A New Look at Lucy!

The picture shows Lucy’s deviated septum and chronic sinus infection. After suffering migraines for several months, Lucy finally was convinced, after breaking out into hives while eating lunch with co-workers, she needed to visit an allergist. The incident was quite amusing as the restaurant owner apologized over and over and then Lucy and her co-workers raced out and drove to the nearest pharmacy, where Lucy downed some antihistamines.

Turns out, she has severe allergies and can no longer eat some of her favorite foods; shrimp, lobster and crab. Although this disappointed her, she is glad to know she can still eat crawfish and is looking forward to the Old Town Spring Crawfish festival in a couple weeks.

In addition to the foods, Lucy, who is not known for her cleanliness, learned she is also severely allergic to dust mites and molds, among a million other things. It may be interesting to note, the name chemical Lucy is allergic to in the shrimp, lobster and crab is also found in dust mites.)

The headaches related to the sinus infection have subsided, but the headaches related to the $200 spent for each time she needed to get a Cat Scan remain.

Here’s to Hangin’ Out in the Transitions of Life! By Liz Housholder

When WKN! recently asked me to submit an update on my life, I hesitated because I felt that I had no real “hard news” to report. I am in the final weeks of graduate school at Miami University (Oxford, Ohio), and in the midst of preparing for comprehensive exams and hearing back from potential employers. My hesitations chiefly stemmed from finding myself in a great state of “liminality,” or transition, in which one chapter of my life is closing, while the next has yet to unfold.

Upon this reflection, however, I remembered that really these transitions, or states of liminality, are some of the most exciting moments of life and many members of our family are experiencing them as well. My beloved cousin, Lucy, is preparing a new chapter of her life – marriage – to her life partner, Jaer. My beautiful sister, Catherine, just arrived to Uruguay for her fellowship in order to learn and make a difference for others in a new cultural setting. My dear cousin, Robbie, is finishing his final months in Egypt; whereas my brother, Paul, looks forward to transferring to IU Bloomington and my cousin, Jeff, anticipates graduation and his first year of college. The list could continue with every member of our family, because (arguably) one of the true natures and guarantees in life is change.

This past summer, which marked another life transition in my life, I came across a passage that eloquently articulates why states of liminality should be embraced with gratitude, confidence, and excitement. I share it with you below because it resonated with me so well. It reads:

“…for an eternity that can last a microsecond or a thousand lifetimes, I soar across the dark void of ‘the past is gone, the future is not yet here.’ It’s called transition. I have come to believe that it is the only place that real change occurs. I mean real change, not the pseudo-change that only lasts until the next time my old buttons get punched….Whether or not my hunch is true, it remains that transition zones in our lives are incredibly rich places. They should be honored, even savored. Yes, with all the pain and fear and feelings of being out-of-control that can (but not necessarily) accompany transitions, they are still the most alive, most growth-filled, passionate, expansive moments of life…And so, transformation of fear may have nothing to do with making fear go away, but rather with giving ourselves permission to ‘hang out’ in the transition between trapeze bars. Transforming our need to grab that new bar, any bar, is allowing ourselves to dwell in the only place where change really happens. It can be terrifying. It can also be enlightening, in the true sense of the word. Hurtling through the void, we just may learn how to fly.” D. Parry

Parry’s message rings true to me because it reminds me that the present moment (in whatever context) is always the richest moment I will ever have. For me, this transition period - between graduate school and full-time employment – is a period where “letting go” of the need for control can first provide me personal growth, patience, and confidence because I am trusting that the “right” trapeze bar/next chapter of life will emerge in due time. It is also a time to reflect on the closing chapter and the ways I have grown, and the manner in which I want to apply those experiences purposefully and lovingly in my next chapter of life. In essence, this is a time for me to create real personal and purposeful change and truly learn how to “fly.”

My message is simple – celebrate and embrace change and the present moment. It’s easier said than done, (trust me, it is not always so fun studying for Comprehensive Exams and waiting by the phone!), but I have realized that the times I have done it have been the most rewarding.

Cheers to all members of our family who are ‘hangin’ out’ in the transition zone ~ May we all love support one another during these exciting times!

Best always,

~ Elizabeth