It is a great place for bachelor parties, birthdays, new years eve, and long weekends, heck it is even a good place for a random tuesday night if you go to college three hours away; I'm not sure if its the place to spend Christmas with your family. Sure enough Las Vegas was the choice for the Dulle family a few years ago, we had a great time, and its the place where one of my favorite Big Don stories took place.
For those of you who don't know Big Don's birthday is today, December 2, and with his new physique he may well spend most of it in his birthday suit. I thought it would be nice to share some stories about Big Don on the comments below. So if you ever hesitate to comment now is the time, consider it a birthday present for Big Don, something to read while he lounges in his birthday suit. I'll go first.
Mine isn't the time he went out and carried Bob off the soccer field while the game was going on because he had gotten fouled one too many times by the oversized 5th grader on the other team, or the time he drove across the country to deliver me the new hyundai elantra because the other car we bought had broken down, or the many times he moved Mary around Missoula (all second and third floor apartments), or the time he had cancer and insisted on buying mom a new computer for her birthday the day after chemo.
It took place in Vegas over Christmas break a few years ago. We had been there for a few days and I think it was Christmas eve. We had some Buds and played cards and like most vegas trips we were losing money. We decided to go to bed and of course the five of us had adjoined rooms with a bed for Bob and I in one room and Mom, Dad, and Mare in the other room. Well Bob was not ready to stop partying and was of course convinced that he would get his money back. Problem is he had no money. So he went over to the adjoining room stepped around Mary on the foldout bed (sorry Mare) and woke mom and dad up. Dad wears shorts, and I mean short shorts, to bed and a Budweiser shirt that may have been too small. Bob of course woke mom and dad up and made all of us laugh, as is often the case. He talked mom into giving him the money that Grandma and Grandpa Whitey had sent him for Christmas, with the caveat that he could not gamble it. She put me in charge of not allowing him out of the room. Well if you read in an earlier post about my job to watch dad at the casino, I am not always great at my jobs and soon Bob was gone. I had to go after him and no one was very happy. For a guy with too many beers Bob was slippery and I couldn't find him. I finally went across the strip to another casino to find him barely hanging on to the edge of a blackjack table but betting $20 dollars a hand, we have all been there He was out of grandpa's money and had used his atm card to get some more and almost out ot it. I let him finish it off and grabbed him before the bouncers did. It must have been 3 am so all sorts of shady characters were out on Las Vegas Blvd. Bob wanted to talk to them all and I wanted to get some sleep, so I am dragging him out. He is pointing all the people out to me, bums, street cleaners, drunks, when he says "hey theres dad". I told him he was nuts but he insisted and sure enough I couldn't believe it but there, in his short shorts, was Big Don coming up the strip. He had left shortly after me searching for Bob and then me. He was not too pleased with either of us I don't think and proceeded to drag us both across Las Vegas Blvd. not at a cross walk or light but right down the middle over the median and straight to the hotel door. Now by the time we got back to the front door of the hotel Bob had dad laughing his butt off, as is usually the case, and we avoided big trouble. I don't think the maintenance people at Mandalay Bay knew what to think with the short shorts proud as could be with his two sons staring in at the tiger cage belly laughing. That was the time me and Bob spent Christmas on Las Vegas Blvd. with our dad.
If you would like to write something I know Big Don will love to read it, please try to keep it PG-13 my mom gets mad at me for bad language and I've already failed a few jobs.
Happy Day Dad cheers to many more.
I have been racking my brain today thinking of a story to tell about Big Don but for some reason I can’t think of one that is worth sharing over another story so I am just going to share my first trip with Big Don and some things he has taught me…
ReplyDeleteI met Don five years ago in Phoenix when Donnie and I first starting dating. It was a brief meeting but I could tell that if Donnie was anything like his dad, I was in good shape! The first time I really spent time with Big Don was in Montana over New Years of 2005. I had never really experienced much cold weather (I grew up in Phoenix) and let me tell you nowhere is as cold as Montana in January! That weekend, coincidently, the heat went out in the Dulle house and it was freezing! Now if I didn’t know them better, I would have assumed they were trying to get rid of me! We proceeded to make the best of it and move out of the house for a few days until it was fixed. This was where I learned what kind of guy Big Don was. He is one of the most gracious and generous people I know and every time I am with him he never seize to surprise me. He searched frantically and called in all the favors to find us a place to stay while they fixed the heat in the house. He also went out of his way to make sure that I had a great first experience in Whitefish and let me tell you, I did. In looking back at that trip, I really don’t even think about the heater being broken and I have to thank Big Don for that. It definitely wasn’t my last trip to Whitefish.
I have been lucky enough to spend many weeks and weekends with Big Don and he is always the guy that is making sure that everyone else is taken care of before himself. I have learned some great morals and lessons from Big Don. He has shown us what it is like to always make your family your priority and that when the going gets tough, you need to rally around with family. I know that this lesson has stuck with his family because that is exactly what Kay, Donnie, Bobby, and Mary (along with Tess and I) have done! I am so excited to be joining the Dulle family in April and I could ask for a better father-in-law!
Happy Birthday Big Don!!!!
Love, Lindsey
Donnie I have never had a birthday without you and people ask me all the time. What is it like having to share your birthday with a sibling? I said I don't know any different and I know we are not twins but we sure do share alot of qualities twins share. I feel him and his thoughts all the time and to me that is the greatest birthday present a person could have. WE all know what an amazing guy he is but lucky for me I have known him longer than you all, (I live in the country according to my other siblings) and I can not ever put in words what my big brother Donnie means to me. Happy Birthday Donnie. You know I love you and your wonderful family so very much. Oh by the way I am not digging this 50 year old stuff.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE YOU DONNIE thanks for sharing your birthdays with me. I am blessed.
God Bless!
Love your favorite twin sister!!!!
Beth and family
I have no idea where to start with my favorite memory of dad, there are so many! I could start with the day I was born, my dad stood outside the ICU watching every breath I took (or so I am told), or how about when Mom, Donnie, Bobby and I went to visit him in Montana (the place he would soon move us) and he had all of the Easter candy any kid could ask for ready for us when we got off that airplane while wearing a red flannel, or how about when we went to the Summit every single day because he thought it was the best thing for mom and I, or how about dad coming to every single volleyball game of mine (even if I sat on the bench every game!), or when he thought I actually needed to work during my high school summer when he had just bought a boat and lets face it that boat was for his baby girl :) The memories that I have of dad could go on for days but my favorite ones are more recent.
ReplyDeleteWhen I went to college at ASU, I just could not stand being so far away from my mom and dad, even after dad lost at least 20 pounds moving me into the dorms in the sweltering heat (thanks Dad:)) I came back to Montana and I am so happy that I made that decision for more reasons than one but most importantly to spend more time with mom and dad. Every Griz game day was a time to see them, get a good meal, and have a lot of laughs whether it was at Johnny Corino's or playing beer pong! I can never put into words how much you mean to me dad and mom. I am a lucky girl and would not ask for anything more!
Over these last couple of months (ones that have not been the best) I have learned a lot from my parents, I have learned to be tough and stick with family when the times get even tougher.
I will stop blabbing but I just want to say one more story! So if any of you have ever talked to Big Don on the phone you know that the last thing he says is Be Careful. Well he has said this to me my whole life, I say love you dad and he says love you baby girl, be careful. He is so used to saying it that one time he was on the phone with one of his salesmen and was not really paying attention at the end of the conversation and he said it! That was funny! Anyways like I said he has said that to me for as long as I can remember, well one night when I was a freshman in college he didn't say it. I did not think anything of it at the time but I woke up in the middle of the night because something had fallen on my head, my alarm clock! Dad, you did not say be careful and I wasn't! So everyone, BE CAREFUL!
I love you Daddio. Happy Birthday and Cheers to many more!
I would have to say that the story you mentioned above about your dad dragging Bobby off the field is one that sticks out in my mind. I can still see the guy who used to run "The Ball Park", the one with the accent, trying to calm Big Don down while he was pulling all of us off the field. As for the Vegas story; although I haven't seen you guys in a long time, I can just picture Bobby laughing at his own jokes while your dad is ready to pick him up by the back of his neck and before long Bobby has everyone around him laughing including Big Don. This story had me rolling! Next time you guys are in the midwest give me a shout. Happy Birthday Big Don!
ReplyDeleteLove You guys!
Tyler Krauss
My memories of you have changed over the years. I remember saying goodby at grandma and grandpa Dulle's house before your big move to Montana and getting to see you every so often when you came back into town for work. Over the past few years I have cherished getting to see you, Kay, and the kids more. I loved seeing you when I lived in Arizona and being able to talk to you. I felt like I was talking to my dad even though he was 1300 miles away. Weddings have been when our families meet now, and it is so amazing how similar all of us are even though we have spent limited time together. I cant thank you enough for coming out to STL for Kevin and I's wedding. It meant so much to have you there. I loved being able to come back to AZ for Bobby and Tess' wedding and I cant wait to make more memories when we come to celebrate yet another wonderful wedding for Donnie and Lindsey. Thank you for all the wonderful memories and the many more to come. I love you Uncle Don, I hope you have a fantastic Birthday!
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Lisa-Mari Sears (Dulle)
Happy Birthday Don. Too many memories, but us Moore's will always remember the first time you watched Christmas Vacation at our house and you laughing so hard you about fell out of the chair. Not to mention your driving skills at night without lights in a green Ford on a field prior to a float trip. We love you, pray daily. Keep up the good C fight. Martha & Dennis
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Don! I have many memories but if it has to be clean I will stay away from Carondelet park! If you know what I mean. From the time I was a freshman in high school and met you while doing dishes in the kitchen I knew you were a special guy for my big sis. Your trip to columbia holds some great laughs! Special time in California when I came to visit after graduation and now I live in the place I visited pretty ironic. Nut a memory that will always stick for the Vessey family is walking down Hastings street for ice cream with you and your boys, bobby throws you a pass and the next thing you know you are laying in our neighbors driveway with skinned knees from donnie's tackle. I think we laughed until we cried. Although you may have been crying before you were laughing! the other great memory is Disneyland. The picture of you and Kay with the 3d classes still has a prominent place on the fridge. Well here's to many more years of great memories. Keep up the good work! We love you!
ReplyDeleteDon, Wednesday Night Race League at the Stube has never been the same and the bikini bash would never have happened if it weren't for you. Happy Birthday. I love you and am praying everyday. You look great Don
ReplyDeleteRay Queen
Hmmm,I could go a lot of places here...Big Big Don setting the human land speed record on the water slide at Adventure Island, the time Big Kid Don took Aj, Alex and I down to the Montana State Basketball Tournament when we were Freshmen in high school (definitely not appropriate) or the time Big Protective Don tried to fight the upper classman that hazed me on the basketball bus. One of my favorite Big Don stories is not only one of the funniest things that I have ever been a part of but the Big Man taught me a very valuable life lesson...it also has something to do with Vegas.
ReplyDeleteI will take you back to Thanksgiving Weekend 2001. I had a soccer tournament down in Vegas and with Donnie going to school down in Redlands we decided to spend our Thanksgiving weekend together in Vegas This trip was a little different because the Dulle Fam brought along a few of our best friends(Aj, Kyla and Marrin). We flew down to California so we could meet Donnie and Kyla in California and we all drove to Vegas from Redlands...roughly a 4 hour drive (remember this as you keep reading). Throughout the weekend we shared many laughs and Big Don and Aj tried to drink Vegas out of Budweiser. Our soccer team ended up doing very well in the tournament and we advanced to the championship where we ended up winning the whole thing. Although it was great to win, it pushed our departure time back to Redlands to 5pm on Sunday. Mom and Mary had to get back to school Monday morning so they flew back to Montana from Vegas and Dad, Donnie, Aj, Kyla, Marrin and I loaded up in the minivan for the 4 hour drive back to Southern California. For those of you who have traveled between Vegas and SoCal on Thanksgiving you know what us Montanans were about to encounter. Two hours into the drive we still picked up more than one radio station and we could still see the Strip. As we continued to plug away on the only route between Vegas and SoCal Big Road Rage Don topped out at 15mph and the jokes in the van began to get dirtier and dirtier. We all grew very hungry and after about 5.5 hours we arrived at the midpoint...the Jack in the Box in Barstow. Now every other dumbass that was driving from Vegas to Cali was hungry too and they also had to pee so you can only imagine how long it took to get our tacos. Because it was already 10pm and we were only halfway we decided to eat the 75 tacos and curly fries in the car...bad move. For the first hour the car smelled like Jack in the Crack and the remaining 4 hours smelt like...well you all know the Dulle's stomach problems (Aj did his fair share to help with the aroma). Finally, 11 hours later, around 4am, Big Delirious Don and the rest us of arrived at Kyla's school to drop her off. After we dropped her off we began to make our way back to the freeway for the short drive back to Redlands. In order to get to the highway we had to drive through a very nice neighborhood with million dollar homes. To be cont...
Here's where things start to get real interesting...Monday in this neighborhood was trash day and everyone had their trash cans out. Out of nowhere Big Teenager Don tells everyone to watch this...without hesitation Big Destructive Don starts taking out trash cans. Because he was part Big Sleepy Don he swerved too far into one can and blasted the brick mailbox that was directly behind the can. He kept driving but the passenger side mirror, along with the paint on the van stayed back at the mailbox. Lights began to turn on in the neighborhood and before you know it two cops fly by us to find the hooligans causing trouble in the fancy neighborhood. Big Dukes of Hazard Don made a few quick moves and before we knew it we were back on the I-10 and home free. We all laughed hysterically until we dropped Donnie back off at the U of R. A few hours later Dad, Aj, Marrin and I returned to the airport in our beat up grocery getter to catch our flight home. As we approach the rental car return lot Big Funny Don tells us all to get out of the van as soon as we pull up to the lot attendant...we had no idea what he was going to say. Age, Marrin and I bailed as fast as we could so we didn't make Pops laugh. As the Hertz guy approaches the driver's side he says...
ReplyDeleteHertz guy: "Any problems with the van"
Dad: "nope, all good"
Hertz guy as he makes his way around the van to the passenger side: "Holy shit, what happened"
Dad: "You will never believe what happened. We were driving back from Vegas last night and you know that drive can get pretty long over Thanksgiving weekend...well we stopped at the Jack in the Box in Barstow, along with every other idiot who was taking the drive, to get some tacos. It took us about an hour to get our food and when we came back out the right side of the car was smashed up. Damn hit and run"
Hertz guy: "Are you kidding me? I was at that same Jack in the Box two weeks ago and the exact same thing happened to me"
Dad: "Crazy, it must be something with that Jack in the Box"
Hertz guy: "Did you get the insurance"
Dad: "Yes I did"
Hertz guy: "Well have a nice flight home"
Big Deceiving Don walks over to the 3 of us belly laughing out of control. After he finally controls himself he tells us the moral of the story is to always buy the rental car insurance.
And there you have it, for you frequent travelers out there, always check the yes box when it comes to rental car insurance.
Too many more funny stories.
Love ya Big Greatest Guy in the World Don.
I have had some great experiences with Big Don... And was very lucky when Donnie decided to attend the University of Redlands since us crazy Vessey's only lived down the street!! But I think the best was when we went to Whitefish for a summer vacation. Over the time in Whitefish we had a great time, Uncle Don even brought home one of the Bud Semi's and we got to get in pretend to drive & honked the horn. (Not sure your neighbors enjoyed that) But probably the best part of the trip and funniest was when we went to the race track. Uncle Don's distributor sponsored the local race track (I think it was). Where they sell BUCKETS of BUD.. That was a Vessey first for us kids, I wasnt even in high school yet.. So we are sitting up in the stands and watching these loud cars and watching all these people get really into it and drinking a ton of BUCKETS of BUD!! All of a sudden we look up and on the outside of the track driving a quad is BIG Don and at the time BIG Jim.. They are smashed onto this quad going no where fast.. Man had a car hit that wall we probably would have lost them.. But they made it slow and steady to where ever they were going... All of us were up in the stands laughing soo hard!!
ReplyDeleteWell today neither of you are soo big.. But you always make us laugh. So Happy Birthday Uncle Don!! Your in my prayers, and you better believe I have no doubt your kicking some major butt in the Arizona desert!! Love you
Since my own dad is not sooo great on the internet.. And posted his comment on bobby's facebook link to this page. I am going to repost it for my daddy so that big Don can get the laugh also.. Maybe even the fact that I have to repost it will make you laugh!! But here it is copied and pasted!!!
ReplyDelete"The time we can up to visit went to the short track to watch the the bud car race he said let's go meet the driver of the car in the infield so the two buffalo butts get on this small three wheel machine and start across the track with the race going and almost get clobbered!!" - From Jim
Gary and I had some good laughs reminiscing about stories from the Klein Drive days. Bike ride on the Great River Road, many great Halloweens, Pre-4th parties, block parties, but our favorite had to be Fireworks at the VP Fair. One year, the Dulles and Bruehls were all sitting on our blanket when some guy came barging through and nearly steps on Kay who was holding Baby Mary. Big Don, always the protector, came unglued and started yelling at the guy. A screaming match started and Big Don was ready to kick some butt, then the cops showed up and asked what was going on. The drunken guy pointed to Gary saying he was the one that started everything, so the cops were ready to haul Gary away. The folks behind us spoke up and said that he was in the clear and that Big Don was the one they wanted, but he had a very good reason to be upset with the other guy. The cops left so Big Don and Gary were able to watch the fireworks with the rest of us. Sitting on a blanket for hours with five kids under the age of four for 20 minutes of fireworks with good friends, PRICELESS!
ReplyDeleteThe first time I saw Big Don was in grade school, he was playing baseball for Saint Francis of Assisi and I was at St Catherine. At that time Don was about the same size he is today, but he was the only seventh grade kid we ever saw who was already shaving. He was the catcher for SFA and could hit the ball a mile when he made contact, which leads me to another story. Little do we know both of us would attend CBC together, and become friends that sometimes got in trouble.
ReplyDeleteOne baseball story took place during the summer with our American Legion Team Europa 390, coached by Frank Mormino, who also owned the bar the team was named after. Now Frank was old school having been a catcher in the Pittsburgh organization, fought in WW II, along with being a bar tender. One day Dulle was catching in a game over at Forest Park, and had a foul ball go off his hand. Time out is called and Don his turning in circles cussing and shaking his hand in pain what a great actor he was. Frank Mormino bolts from our dugout to check on the condition of his prize catcher, and comfort him on his injury, there was deep concern on the faces of his teammates.
Being the caring type, Frank instructs Big Don to show him his hand, and tell him where it hurts. How he was able to stand with the pain we will never know, but Don shows Frank the area that was hit, and Frank with a load of tobacco juice in his mouth spits on the hand and tells him get back be hide the plate. Everyone on the bench then busted out in laughter, and Don had a smile on his face, as the pain in his hand was replaced with laughter.
Happy Birthday Don, Kopsky had his in late November, and my birthday is December 7th, so both of you guys are older than me. We are all thinking of you, in fact I saw Mike Bono at church on Sunday, and he sends his regards. By the way washing those dishes at CBC was a lot of fun, we always had plenty of fruit pies. Next time we could talk about having Marvin Barnes car for our prom.
Dan Wienstroer
danatpdf@aol.com
314-239-7946
Unfortunately for Jim and I, no Big Don stories; I'm afraid Cody has some that we haven't heard yet! What I do know is that the weekend we decided to go the movies and watch "The Hangover," Big Don and his band of revelers was in Vegas for Bobby's bachelor party, doing their own version of the show. I had visions of Bobby on the roof, and the rest of them somewhere on the strip doing God knows what. Big Don paid for lots that weekend, and I know Cody had quite a good time, minus some money. No calls from the cops that weekend, and for that Big Don, we thank you!! Keep up the fight, and we are wishing all of you a wonderous Holiday Season.
ReplyDeleteThe Martinsons
After seeing Big Don and sweet Kay yesterday at the mayo clinic..Mike and I started talking about our memories..then we jumped on this amazing blog Donnie is doing (great job by the way..if the PA thing does not work out for you..writing may be in your future)..the first time we remember meeting Big Don was at a meeting to put together a summer league soccer team that Big Don was going to coach..Sarah wanted to play soccer so we met Bobby and Big Don for the first time after their move from St. Louis to Whitefish..Big Don was so intense Sarah sat in the room filled with fear and trepidation..so much so she started crying in the car saying there was no way she wanted to play with the mean coach..fast forward many years..Donny, AJ, Sarah, Hayley, Alex, Jose..Oh my gosh..all good friends..so many wonderful "kid" memories..fight hard Big Don and there will be many more good memories..we hold you and the family in our thoughts and prayers! All our Love..Mike and Terri Fennessy
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