Christmas visitor

Santa came to see us on Christmas Eve. He hasn't been there in person for the past few years, so we were really excited to see him. Especially Teresa. She always gets really excited when Santa walks in.

He spent a lot of time with us and we all got something out of his special bag. But before he passed out presents, Zachary had to get something off his chest. He started by saying, "I have something to tell you."

 

And then he said, "I've been a little bad." Santa responded with something very appropriate (we were all laughing too hard to hear what he had to say) and I think he immediately felt better for having unburdened himself. I think he might have been a little worried that Santa didn't have anything in that bag for him and wanted to be up-front about his behavior.

Caden got his gift pretty early in the process. And he was happy to have something with Lightning McQueen on it! He didn't even mind getting his picture taken with Santa.

Micah, on the other hand, minded a lot! Poor thing didn't want anything to do with Santa on his first Christmas. But he really did like the blocks Santa brought him. Maybe next year he won't mind so much.

Jessica got some duct tape the color of her car to help hold it together. She was pretty excited.

 

Zachary was happy when he got a Spider-Man shaving kit from Santa.

 

Santa brought me a Starbucks gift card. He knows me very well. And this is the picture that made me decide I really need to lose some weight.

Happy to report that since the first of the year I've lost almost 8 pounds. Motivation can be found in a scheduled vacation to Europe. This time feels different already, though. I've been a cooking fool (thanks in part to the new Calphalon cookware I got for Christmas) and I've been exercising and eating right. That combination of things has been really hard for me in the past. But this time it feels like a shift in my thinking which is a wonderful feeling. Stay tuned for updates throughout the year.

Fireworks!

I was on vacation over the Fourth of July, but the rest of my family was at my sister Jenny's house for a surprise birthday party and fireworks. I love this picture of Zachary. I think he's a little bit excited about the fireworks portion of the evening!

Caden looks like he's not quite sure yet. I heard they had a wonderful time and I'm sorry I missed it.

My not-so-new great nephew, Micah

Micah Bradley was born February 5 and I'm very late in blogging about him. He's the second child for my nephew Andrew and his wife, Rachel. And big brother Caden just loves his Micah! Here's is a picture of him fresh in the world (photo by Jack and Jill Portraits):

Doesn't it look like he's waving to everybody? I love this picture. The next one is from June, I think. Taken by his mommy, who he thinks is the funniest person ever.

And this one is from mid-August. I can't believe how much he changes. And she's not only funny, but a good photographer. His mommy took this picture too.

Here's the big brother, himself. Caden at my house with Mardi Gras hat and nerd glasses. He loves those glasses!

This one of Caden was taken outside in August. His mom tells me she bribed him to get these pictures, but I'm not at liberty to say what she bribed him with. I still think it was win-win because it's such a cute picture. And yes, he's just as ornery as he looks.

 

I finally met Patricia

Almost two weeks ago, I drove up to Kansas City to see my good friend, Tristan. We were talking about the fact over the weekend visit that we are each other's "oldest" friend. What we mean by that is that we are the first friend that each of us remembers making. Our families lived pretty close to each other in the country (Tristan had horses at her house and I did not) and we are sure we were friends even before kindergarten. Over the years we've seen each other off and on, but it's always like we have never been apart. Friendships like that are few and far between and I cherish those connections when they happen.

This past April, Tristan had a baby. A precious little girl that I had only seen in pictures until two weeks ago. I met Patricia that Friday evening and it took only about 30 seconds for her to decide she liked me and we are now the best of friends. Which illustrates just how smart she is. Unfortunately, neither Tristan or I thought to snap a picture of the two of us together, but I did get one of Patricia and I:

See what I mean? Precious. Thanks for the hospitality to Tristan and Dave. And to Patricia for all the smiles and coos. We'll do it again soon, I promise.

It's been 20 years

I took this picture on the campus of Newman University this past May looking west at sunset (obviously). This grotto area is where I remember my college career getting started. The weekend I moved into the dorm as a freshman, there was an outdoor barbeque for the students and their parents in the grotto. It was just after this meal that my parents walked me back to the dorm and left me for good. I was homesick. But that's not what I remember most about that moment. We were walking in front of the big steps on the east side of Sacred Heart Hall and we were talking about whether or not there was anything else I'd need before they left town.

Mom and I had been the grocery store the day before and bought some things for me to keep in my room (getting up early for breakfast has never been my thing) and I had gotten some bagels. They were not pre-cut. I said that the only thing I needed was a knife to cut the bagels. Mom stopped, then so did dad and I, and we watched while she rummaged around in her purse for a minute and then produced a steak knife. My dad and I looked at each other with confused faces. Why did she have a steak knife in her purse? Her story is that she'd taken an apple to work earlier that week, along with the knife to cut it up, and just hadn't removed it yet. Right. It remains one of my favorite "going to college" memories.

This May was the 20th anniversary of my graduation from Newman. I spent a good part of May 2011 remembering my college years. I spent a good bit of time on campus this May as president of the alumni association. I even got to welcome the new graduates to the association at commencement. It was such a good decision for me to go to school at what was then Kansas Newman College in the fall of 1987. I feel blessed and eternally grateful.

This just makes me FEEL cooler

With the amount of days we've had this summer in triple digits, I like to look at this picture taken in February at Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia. It just makes me feel cooler looking at it.

I know I'm the minority, but I'd much rather be bundled up in a coat year-round than sweating my face off in the summer. Hands down. Now I must go outside and water my flowers so they don't die.

Harvest

For the first time in many, many years I was in Ellinwood during harvest. I took Zachary (and Katie and Victoria took Caden) and we headed to the field. I didn't ride in the combine, but the boys did and they had a great time. Here's a picture of them in air-conditioned comfort riding with Ryan while the rest of us sweated it out in the sunshine.

What's a trip to the field without a trip to the Dairy Queen? Well, if you're in Ellinwood, you'd have to drive a bit to find one these days. So we did the next best thing and went for the Heavenly Sno. Are these two crazy or what?

If you're not having any fun while hanging out with Zachary and Caden, you're not trying very hard!

I'm still kicking

Well, it's been a while. I wish I could stick to a schedule of posting better than I do. So much has happened since I posted in February. I went to Nova Scotia for another two-week trip in February and then made a 3-day trip to Toronto at the beginning of March. Both trips were work-related. They were right, it was much colder in February and March in Canada than it was in December when I went to Nova Scotia the first time. I got some good use out of my new Land's End down coat and super-comfy Uggs!

Before those trips and since I've been back home it's been very busy at work. I leave work every day mentally (and sometimes physically) exhausted, but satisfied that I'm doing what I love and still learning new things all the time. We just passed the 10-year anniversary of the Wichita office of the company and as one of my co-workers aptly put it: "Sometimes frustrating; never dull."

I've got a bunch of pictures of the lighthouse at Peggy's Cove covered in snow and from the Foggy Goggle in Halifax where I spent my last night in Nova Scotia hanging out with some pretty cool Haligonians (that's what they call themselves in Halifax) drinking some beer and chatting up a storm. There are also pictures of a night out with the girls, various family gatherings, my new great nephew Micah Bradley who was born February 5, and bunch of other things I'm sure I've forgotten about.

I will try and download the photos soon and get some more things posted in addition to keeping the grass mowed (not doing a great job of that lately), enjoying some light summer reads and watching movies and TV shows via Netflix on my new TV.

Hedwig Lives

My niece, Katie, and I went down to Oklahoma City in January to see a production of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," for which my nephew, Christopher, designed the costumes. I have to say, the denim cape he fashioned for Hedwig was my favorite. It's genius what he did with the bib overalls! He also styled the wig with wings you see in this picture.

The dude on the left is really Renee Anderson (not a dude) and the lovely lady on the right is Matt Brown, who is a dude in real life. These two rocked the stage (literally, it's a rock musical) along with The Angry Inch band and I very much enjoyed their heartfelt performance. I can't really explain well the premise of the show, but the message is pretty powerful as told by Hedwig about her life growing up as a boy in East Berlin and the botched sex-change operation that allows her to leave the divided city of her birth. It's about finding the other half that completes you. And that sometimes you have to lose a piece of yourself to be free. It means even more to me now that I know how much this show has meant to Christopher.

It's always fun to go down to OKC for a visit and this time I got to meet the newest member of the family, Nugget. He's almost four months old and just cute as a button. Well, see for yourself. He's not only cute, but incredibly friendly. He'll lick your face off if you let him.

Greetings from the Maritimes

I've been on a business trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia, one of the Canadian provinces that's part of the Maritimes. It's gorgeous. The weather got pretty chilly this week, but I like cold weather so that's really been a non-issue. I figured out pretty easily how to get from the airport to the hotel (and customs didn't even sort through my luggage) and then to the newspaper without any real issues.

Today I took a very short road trip to see one of Nova Scotia's most popular tourist attractions. On a cold, snow flurryish day in December. You're probably asking, "Are you crazy?" and I may be, but I think it was the most perfect day to be there. The drive there was not long, but I stopped a lot to take pictures and enjoy the winter scenery. Every way you drive there are lakes and coves and beautiful, breathtaking vistas. This is one example:

And another one:

I drove to Peggy's Cove, which is a little fishing village on the southwestern edge of the province. I would like to emphasize the word "little" because it was nothing if not small and quaint. It may be one of my new favorite places in the entire world. It became much more dear to my heart when it started snowing just before I arrived. Driving in the village, I was so glad to be here during this time of year when the tourists are not. There were still a few people visiting the lighthouse today, but many fewer than there would be in the summer months. It really doesn't need an introduction.

And just to prove I was there, here's a contemplative self-portrait by the sea.

It was a really good day and I feel very fortunate to be here. I also did a little shopping. I had the best time talking to a couple of ladies who were manning one of the few gift shops in the village. We had a very nice talk and I took advantage of their 30% end-of-season sale (see, it was the best time of the year to go) on everything in the store. Well, I didn't buy everything they had, but I got some really good stuff. And sipped on some yummy hot cider while I shopped. Can't wait to give away the gifts I bought today. I wish I could post pictures of those things, but I can't. Too many eyes might see what they shouldn't.

A note to the staff

Dear Hospitality Staff,
Thank you for making my bed and for bringing around those tasty chocolates and a bottle of water each night. I really appreciate you taking such good care of me.

Yours truly,
Chris

I can't make this stuff up

Seen at the intersection of 25th and Arkansas. Yes, that's a small white dog in the backpack of the motorcyclist.


They must do this often because the pooch didn't look a bit scared. I was on my way to work one morning a couple of months ago when I snapped this picture. But it still makes me smile.

Zachary turns 3!

In the middle of my week of vacation at the end of April, Zachary turned three years old. His party was the weekend after his birthday and almost everybody was there to celebrate his special day. The day before his party I got to spend the whole day with him and Grandma Sherrie. We worked on a project to make Mother's Day gifts for his grandmas and his mommy. I think they were a big hit. We also went to the park where he made me dizzy by turning me on the spinny thing and mom laughed her fool head off when I couldn't walk. She's somewhat evil. No pictures of that because she was laughing too hard.

His party included a cookout, cake and, of course, a pile of presents. Here he's flashing his I.D.

Preparing to blow out the candles.

And tearing into the present pile with mommy reading him his card from yours truly.

Some of his favorite toys. I just got him boring books and clothes.

It's so cliche, but I cannot believe that he's already three years old. It seems like just yesterday when he was born. He's getting so big and independent and I sometimes miss that little baby. But then he says something really funny and I'm so glad he's older and more entertaining!

Singsation

In April I drove out to Oakley to see and hear my nephew, Jeffrey, in Singsation. On the way to Ellinwood to ride with my sister Teresa I had a tire blow out on a lonely country road in Rice County. As luck would have it, about five minutes after I pulled to the side of the road, some people whose kids I used to babysit drove by on their way to Wichita. Clayton was instrumental (OK, he did the whole thing) in putting on the spare. I was able to make it to Ellinwood without mishap. So grateful they came by when they did.


They kicked off the show in their fanciest outfits. Jeffrey's the second from the left in the back row. He did a great job on his solo of "I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas" which he heard for the first time last year in my car. He was really nervous, but I was so proud of him. Some of the other solos...well, not so much. They were all way ahead of me, though, because I'd never get up and sing in front of a crowd. Ever. At least not without a lot of alcohol first.

He also joined the rest of the boys in the Oakley Plainsman Singers for "Goober Peas" and he's the goober on the right in this picture.

We had a good time and I was glad I made the trip out for it. I needed new tires anyway.

Easter weekend

My birthday fell on Good Friday this year and I was lucky to have that day off from work. It was the day I got the official offer letter for my new job at Brainworks. It was a really good day, despite the fact I turned a year older.

Zach was really the only little kid around on Easter Sunday. He had a great time helping hide Easter eggs with Katie and I. We'd each take turns hiding them with him and then he'd help the other one find the same eggs he'd just hidden. It was pretty comical. We had gorgeous weather that day and ended up spending a lot of time outside. Here Zach and Katie are finding the eggs I helped him hide.

Hiding eggs with them made me remember hiding them when I was a kid. It brought back some really good memories. I've always loved Easter since it's usually right around my birthday. I hid an egg in this tree that I ran over with the mower right after my parents planted it. I know I stunted that tree's growth, but it's still alive even though it hasn't really grown that much. Oops! Even though my mom never said anything about it at the time, she told me she definitely noticed it when it happened. Mom always knows! Eyes. In. Back. Of. Head.

After egg hunting was over, Katie and Zach got into a fight with sticks. They're so weird.

Better late than never, right?

As my family will point out, I'm a bit of a tardy blogger. I really do mean well, it's just that life gets in the way. Not to mention a new job (this is week seven already) and a healthy dose of sleep on the weekends. But I'm back and I'm vowing (yes, again) to be a better blogger.

The first three months of the year I spent every Wednesday night with a great group of folks as part of my job. I really enjoyed coaching that group of couples on the skills they were learning in their marriage education workshop. It was a great way to round out my employment with Marriage for Keeps. My job there ended on April 30 and I was lucky enough to be able to have the last week as vacation before I started the new job. Here's a picture of workshop facilitator Brian talking to the group. That's the other facilitator, Rachel, facing the camera.

Because of confidentiality reasons I can't post a picture of the group even though I took one the last night we met. If you were in that group and want a copy of the picture I took, post a message and I'll e-mail it to you.

I miss my co-workers at MfK because they're a group of awesome individuals, but I'm really diggin' the new job. What's not to like about the relaxed dress code, "normal" work hours, and the satisfaction of helping people work through their computer problems? Nothing, that's what.

Stay tuned. More to come...

Spring is springing

The forsythia in my back yard bloomed this week. I think it looks so pretty. If the photo looks blurry it's because the wind has been blowing constantly (it seems anyway) this week. It never seems like there's a moment it's not blowing in the wind.

Five years ago about this time my friends Lucy, Ian, William and Ellen were here from England for a visit. They bought the forsythia (they pronounce it for-sigh-thia) for me on that trip and we planted it together. I never look at it without thinking of them. And just in time for my birthday, I received a card from them in the mail yesterday. Happy spring, friends!

OKC trip

A couple of weeks ago (OK, almost a month ago) I went down to Oklahoma City with my mom and sisters for our annual girls’ weekend. Jenny studied on the way down (she has to keep up her perfect 4.0 GPA in grad school, you know). As usual it was filled with lots of laughter and some really good food.

Christopher, one of my nephews, lives in Oklahoma City and works at a couple of restaurants. We went to one of them while he was at work and it was a great experience. Ingrid’s is a German bakery and restaurant. We dined there on the Saturday for lunch and my reuben was excellent, but the slice of German chocolate cake I ate for dessert was the best I’ve ever had. It was so good I took a picture of it and my sister, Teresa, made fun of me. On the left is mom's strawberry cake. On the right is Teresa's coconut cake. My German chocolate is in the middle. It really was divine.

There was live music when we got there but they put away their instruments not long after we arrived. Ingrid’s was featured on a recent episode of “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives” on the Food Network. We got to meet Maggie, the kitchen manager, who showed Guy Fieri how they make their famous reubens. Search for it on YouTube if you haven’t seen it.

Here’s a picture of Christopher at work behind the counter. He’s very photogenic, don’t you think?

We also ate at Iron Starr barbeque and it was delicious as always. Sorry no pictures of that.

There was also a healthy dose of slot machine play for my sister, Jenny, who has a bit of a gambling itch that needs scratching every now and then. Mom, Teresa and I were happy with about three hours’ worth of gambling. Jenny needed about eight hours’ worth. So we left her there and picked her up later. Very little shopping this year. Mostly we just hung out, ate and played cards. It was so much fun I'm ready to go again.

A Keeper photo

In January I went to Exploration Place with Jennifer, Bella and Jake to get a sneak preview of the Mr. Potato Head exhibit. We weren't really that impressed with it and Bella was very unimpressed with the costumed spud, but she did consent to one photo with him.

After this picture was snapped she wouldn't go near him and hid behind me every time we saw him.

When we left EP the flames at the Keeper of the Plains were ablaze. Here's a picture I took that turned out pretty good, for an amateur photographer.

Happy Vietnamese New Year!

A couple of weeks ago I had lunch at Saigon on Broadway. Behold, the number 56:

It was the perfect day for lunch at Saigon. They had entertainment to celebrate Vietnamese New Year, which included the popping of firecrackers outside (to ward off the evil spirits) and some drum music and two dragons winding their way through the restaurant during the lunch rush. I'm sure they symbolized something, but I don't know what. I liked the atmosphere, though. It was lunch AND a show!

As you can see I wasn't the only one taking pictures of this event.

After we'd eaten, we also got to pick out an envelope from a basket. Each envelope (or ours anyway) contained a Power Ball $1 quick pick. I am sad to report that I didn't win anything, but it was a good day to lunch at one of my favorite places.