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.