Since my summer's flying by like I'm sure all of yours are, I decided to write one e-mail for Zaffarano.org. Maybe you could think of this as my belated Christmas note? hahaha. We've had some new additions, some excitement, some very busy days. I'll start in order I guess.

Marshall: Marshall has found his passion. The school started a golf team of which he qualified. I'm glad for him because he needed "his" thing. It's wonderful; he can go to any golf course within the Des Moines and surrounding cities and golf for free. He ran and was voted in for the senior class president next year (this makes his 4th year as president). Marshall was also chosen, along with 2 other boys, to represent the school at the American Legion Hawkeye Boys State camp at Camp Dodge. Boys were chosen across Iowa who were leading students within their school and community. The camp involved around 600 high school juniors from across Iowa. They were separated into different barracks and within the barracks the boys became a "city". Within the city they established their own government. They voted their representative for the House of Rep., lawyers, police, and various other positions. It was a week long camp and at first Marshall wasn't real keen on going but when I picked him up, he said it wasn't as bad as he thought. His positon was the "cities" representative for the House of Rep. He said it was fun being in the position to discuss bills and make decisions. I guess all of the boys in the camp even got down to paying taxes etc. He said someone was arrested for tax evasion. He does have some fun stories. He will also be a CIT (counselor in training) for Wildwood Lodge (the past famous Bortels Ranch) outside St. Charles. He'll be there for two weeks helping disadvantaged 7-14 year olds.

We bought him a 1990 Chevy Llumina. He's just as happy and proud of that car. He's thrilled because it has a cd player, windows that really work, and an air conditioner. It gets 28 mpg and is in perfect condition.

Halley: For those of you who don't know, she is double majoring in Marketing and Business Management with a minor in Speech and Organizational Communication. Halley has always had goals and one of those is to have 2 internships before she graduates. Well, she has one for this summer. At first it sounded to good to be true. Most internships aren't paid ones, or if they are, not good paying ones. This one was incredible. The agency is Axiom Strategies in Kansas City and yes, she's living in an apt. by herself (that was another goal to live by herself). I broke the news to Jan gently, haha, but it is a republican based advertising agency. Halley has stated that this doesn't mean she is Republican, it's a job and good money. She has learned so much during her employment. She'll be there until the week before school starts. I guess Jeff Roe the owner is very well known and "name dropping" his name is something that may help her in the future. Her modeling: She has always done the modeling thing only when it worked into her school/track schedule. The agency she's with is in Kansas City. She has done several jobs over the past couple years. Halley was funny...she called one day and said she was procrastinating. She dyed her hair to match her eyebrows and roots which have always been brown. Halley said she decided she probably wasn't going to do any modeling anymore, she was tired of the stereotype of being ditsy, and tired of people thinking she dyed her hair blonde (because of her roots/eyebrows) AND she said also because the modeling situation had always told her she couldn't cut her hair, etc. Long story short, she had to stop into the agency for some reason, they saw her hair (she told them she wasn't going to be able to make new comp cards because of the financial issue) and left it at that. The agency called her and wanted her to come down for a photo shoot. She told them she still had brown hair and they told her she to come. It turned out she was already chosen by Hallmark/Halls which is the biggest client the agency has. They wanted her when they looked at pics of models (in which she had blonde hair) but wanted her with brown hair......of which she had now. The photogragher is one of the best I guess. The last woman Hallmark had for this position was from England so the search process was world wide. She also happend to be booked for a photo shoot for CMT (country music television?) I'm not a country fan but I guess it's a TV channel. The agency told her they canceled her for that one. She asked why and they told her it was for the same day as the other shoot. Halley just said, "ok" and I guess they said, "Halley, I don't think you really realize how big this is!" The first shoot was last week and she had so much fun. She's going to be in magazines, posters, cards, flyers and newspapers with the last shoot.

Because of her double major she's going for 1 1/2 more years and than has decided to go for her Masters. OK, I could on, but I'll quit boring all of you....I'm sure most of you have quit reading by now.

Evan: Evan was feeling like he wasn't getting anywhere at Menards. I felt they were abusing him, making him work 60 + hrs a week and still classifying him as part time. He finally became full time with benefits and the potential to manage his portion of the yard but he was feeling like he needed a change. He is now working with Aspen Fitness Center and hopes to eventually be a personal trainer. The change is good for him. It forces him to be assertive and the growth and excitment I've seen in him is worth it. He will stay in Des Moines for a while and lives with a friend he had in Iowa Falls. They have a house together on the south side. Chris, his roommate, besides his regular job, is a photographer and has a magazine he's been trying to get off the ground. It is a magazine promoting bands in the midwest. We've looked at it and the photography is amazing. Evan is helping him with this project as well.
Have I lost all of you by now? Wow, sorry this is so long!
Love you guys
Lisa

Front yard with Dad's fireplace legs in new configuration.

And Mom's bird bath

Marshall's 1990 Lumina

1998 LeSabre...there is a 1993 blue LeSabre behind mine, that is one Evan is buying from us.