Monthly Archives: August 2015

08.13.15
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So we found a farm drive in a rural area of Missouri….

The Royals lost to the Tigers last night but it didn’t really dampen the fun we had at the K.  I kept thinking about my dad and how I would have loved going to a Royals game with him…after I explained why he would have to enter a stadium of a team in the American League.  We almost spent more for food and large waters than we did on the tickets…but I had decided that money was no object last night and was not going to keep me from eating a brat, hot dogs and popcorn….living the dream.

I really wondered if we would pull it out in the ninth inning when the praying mantas flew in and took a seat

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I have no idea how the people in the row ahead of him were able to continue watching the game.  I was in the next section and had to keep moving around because it creeped me out so much.

Here’s some pictures of Kauffman Stadium “the K” before and during the game.

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Oh, and back to the farm drive.  Preseud Showers.  As soon as we got out of the truck, we heard what I thought was a chorus of frogs…we hopped into the back of the pickup and this cacophony of song? continued…it sounded like frogs…but not Iowa frogs and then we heard a chirp sound…he told me it was just penguins…the longer we sat there in the dark, in the back of the pickup on a dark Missouri road, the creepier I felt until I said..Okay…I’m done…we have to get out of here.

So…back to the home deck where we rolled up blankets to ease our necks and saw a few shooting stars…tonight is supposed to be the best night for viewing…you know where we’ll be.

Until next time…..

08.12.15
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Starlight, Starbright, I had better see a shooting star tonight!

Well, we did it again!  It was only two years ago when he and I and the him-in-law layed in the back of a pickup in a farm drive in the country so we could watch the Perseid meteor shower only to learn that it wasn’t right night.

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We sat here last night until our necks ached and then I went out again after midnight because I refused to believe that we only saw 3!  We were looking up and we didn’t blink.  Before I went to sleep, I googled to make sure we had the right night and learned that best viewing is in the NE sky.  We were looking up not northeast…can that really make a difference…and I answered myself – apparently!!

We are going to a Royals game tonight.

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Surely once we get out of the city after the game, we will be dazzled.  At least I’ll have on my sequined Royals cap so he will see flashes of light.

Its kind of like the week after Christmas…

Before the wedding our friends from Newton, Rod and Kim came for an overnight visit.

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I was so looking forward to seeing them…then the weekend in Des Moines with family for the wedding and now I don’t know what to do with myself…sort of lonely.  We took Baxter and Truman to the vet yesterday for their annual shots.  Of course, true to form, Truman had to have a bath when we got home because the car ride stresses him out so much…at least he just peed in his carrier this time…oh…and Howled at the top of his lungs.

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He is totally avoiding me today!

Tonight we have the Royals…and the stars!!!!

Until next time….

08.11.15
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Imagine our surprise!


At first glance, it appeared Katy and Adam went all out on wedding reception decorations.  On closer inspection, we found that the money spent was actually courtesy of:


He rented the Court Avenue Bridge for a rally.   (Our niece, Ashley’s husband).

Reception guests were greeted with upbeat music and mostly positive energy from the crowd!

Kate and Adam’s friend and photographer, Scott Steen, captured the love at the reception….one of my favorite pictures includes this one……if you look closely you can see how much Jaxon enjoyed the photography session….he was looking for  rocks to throw in the river … Rocks, Rocks, don’t move rock….or ….. willing a huge blast of smoke so the guy and his camera would disappear…..POOF!


….and here’s our family



Until next time…..

08.10.15
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…and then…just like dominos, the doors started to slam shut

Returning to Des Moines, my original home town, makes me feel nostalgic….those long-gone moments!  It just feels good when we drive through the west mix master and start our journey across the freeway of memories.  For Katy and Adam’s wedding, we made our weekend home at the downtown Marriott.  From our hotel window was this view of the Equitable building (on the left)

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I remember my mom telling me, every time we shopped in downtown Des Moines, that the corner by the Equitable was the windiest corner in Des Moines.  I also saw the iconic Traveler’s Insurance sign several times and the Colonial Bread sign.

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Late Friday night, He and I decided to go out and walk around downtown Des Moines.  We had been on Court Avenue earlier in the evening for dinner with the brothers and wives – the street full of restaurants and bars and street musicians has evolved over the years.  It was a lot of fun.

We took the skywalk from the hotel but found it to be empty and boring so grabbed the first elevator down and we ended up in the movie Lost in New York.  We exited on the ground floor of a building under construction and when the revolving doors to the outside were locked, the hair stood up on the back of my neck.

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so we meandered around some hallways because we figured if you could get in by elevator – there had to be a way to get out – right?

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WRONG!

Standing here, I was starting to do an internal panic and totally freaked myself out because I’ve seen way too many movies; I would totally not have been surprised if the steel doors started slamming shut.  I actually expected it.   I took one last picture as we got on the same elevator to go back up to where we had been.  Just in case we missed the wedding.  Someone could check my apple pictures account and know what happened.

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Obviously it all turned out okay!  Learned a huge lesson.  NEVER stop exploring!

Until next time….

08.08.15
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Happy Wedding Day to my beautiful daughter 

Subtitle:  Welcome to the family, Adam

Subtitle:  Thanks Katy and Adam for throwing this family reunion

Minus two cousins, we are all going to be together today to celebrate Kate marrying her best friend.  They are one of those love stories which steeped from a high school friendship….went their separate ways to follow their passions and found each other again to marry 10 years later.  Adam has been son material for some time now but today we will make it official….we are blessed.

We partied with the brothers and their better halves in Des Moines last night.  Him, the him-in-law and the other him-in-law.  Sounds like a MY OTHER BROTHER Daryl scenario….and it was!

  
  
what it says for us 3 sister in laws…I’m not really sure.

Its going to be a LOVEly day!

Until next time…….

08.02.15
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The funniest thing I heard today, so far….

One of those political pundits tweeted that preparing for the republican debate on Thursday is like preparing for a NASCAR race when you know one driver will be drunk. (Paraphrased).  I laughed out loud when I heard it on Meet the Press…then giggled again when it appeared on Face the Nation.  I will not say that I support Donald Trump but a I will say I’m not as afraid of him as I am Scott walker!  Of course (he is tired of hearing me say) that I won’t get to hear anything else vital to feed my Sunday political appetite because the Kansas City station must only air the first half of Face the Nation because they have to feature the talking head “personalities”? Of the local talking heads and their fluff.  I think I’m going to have to attack them on social media to calm my anger.  SHOCK!

I will also paraphrase the best explanation I’ve received about mentally dealing with my dysfunctional childhood.  I received this bit of wisdom from a friend of 30 years.  She and I worked together for 2 years back in the 80s and lost touch for several years until we found each other on Facebook and have grown our mutual love and respect for each other.  She suggested last night that one of the reasons I continue to occasionally regurgitate my childhood maternal relationship is because I keep asking why.  I’m searching for the WHY for my upbringing.  Why would a mother treat a child the way my mother treated me.  WOW!  I’m feeling confident that I’ve talked and worked my way thru it even as far as forgiving her….but, the WHY is always there.  I’m never going to know why!  I’ve officially made it over another hill! …..and now.

I watch the baseball game on TV.  Go ROYALS,

Until next time…..