A Trip to KCMO to Visit Family: Mary & Randy & Kids

Mary is at work yet, Randy is showing me around the house as they have done some major updating - things look great. Carol and Laura are in the kitchen getting things ready for a Bar-B-Q. Randy and I finished supper and had a rum & coke or two or three - we laugh & howl more at this house than we do anywhere in the world.

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Laura showed me some of the pictures that she has taken for a Photography class... I really liked this one that she took of a friend on a railroad track.
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Laura, self portrait... cool.
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We always have to check out the fridge front to see whats new.
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Some very pretty sunflowers out in the front yard.
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Laura and Paul playing with the newest addition to the family: Little Kid. They rescued the kitty from the road side where he had taken up residence in a wet, dirty culvert. Paul is on his way back to college and an apartment, shared by buddies.
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Laura let me share this memory with you all... she remembers, when she was a little girl, having this interaction with her mother. I thought it was cute and pretty typical for our family.

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A movie of the Little Kid playing with an LED ball toy.

A Stop at the Kansas City Plaza

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A Trip to the Mediterranean Grocery at the KC Farmers Market

Michael has been making some really good eastern rice based recipes and he often has to improvise because he does not have the spices that he needs. Carol thought she might get a few exotic ones in this store - they had lots of colorful, pictureful spices. We left with a whole bag full.

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The cob webs on the scoop were free.

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A Trip to KCMO to See Friends - More Lake Videos

Claire and Max tubing together across the lake over to the Marina. Very nice kids. Claire has graduated from high school and is going away to Art School next year and Max is already an accomplished photographer. I explored his web site - it is quite good. His father and grandfather are both good photographers so he definitely got some good direction from them. Did you know professional digital cameras these days have over 21 megapixels? That is easily twice as many as the standard $200 vacation camera that is popular these days.

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At this cabin, hardly anyone needs two skis to ski. So I am a rarity, a ski Nautique antique so to speak.

Two Doug's and Two Young Ladies at the Beach House

We went to Kansas City to stay at a beach house of an old Air Force buddy, Doug. He has a swell place at a Lake south of the city a bit. I thought that this picture of me, taken by Carol, on Friday evening on the glassy water at sunset would appropriately sum up our visit. Lots of skiing and other water sports in between the catching up to each other over wine and dinner each evening. Thanks Doug for the invite - great fun was had by all...

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Over the weekend, Doug had some friends and family visit so we got to see lots of people we did not know or have not seen in a very long time. I caught Doug and two Young ladies, Abigail and Carol - note (windshield) that we were dodging a few raindrops by sitting comfortably in the boat under roof in his slip at the marina.
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The Fab Four of us - the rain did not last long so we were out skiing again shortly. Three of the four of us are excellent slalom skiers. (I prefer two skis as I am old and have a bad memory (I cannot remember how to ski on one.))
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Carol caught a picture of a sunset through one of the trees in Doug's front yard. We were pooped probably and ready for a shower, cocktails and dinner. Early bed all three nights. We are so old.

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Doug had one of his children visit on Sunday afternoon. Claire brought Max out for a visit and I caught a picture of them on the tube. They are obviously old hands at this because Doug could not shake them off the tube - he spent three gallons of petrol snaking hard back and forth trying...
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Another unexpected guest came to visit. Doug and Abbie met this young man in a Medical Mission trip to Africa. Long story short, his life depended on an operation so complex that it took a team of surgeons and support staff almost 24 hours to perform at Kansas University Hospital. I will put a link in here (http://www.mmfworld.org/) in case you would like to read about this amazing young man and his life saving team that sponsored his survival. Here you see Boi holding his hands up in a victory sign as Doug had not yet thrown us off the tube.
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Doug and Doug with our friend Boi. He loved tubing behind the boat and asked me to go along with him - we hooted and howled and generally acted like the kids that we are.
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We put up some of Doug's art work - he has been too busy entertaining friends all summer to get some of these mundane projects done. This particular bevel and glue chip piece I made years ago and was happy to see that it has survived.
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Beautiful picture but I need to have Doug comment on the origin.
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One of his favorite pieces that he bought in Mexico now hanging over the beach house fireplace. I do not know the full story of the painting... perhaps I can get Doug to give me more information someday.
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The frogs entertain us in the evening after the dinner dishes are done. You can sit in his dark family room and watch the frogs crawl onto his glass door to catch the small bugs that settle there attracted by the light from the inside of the house. Is not nature amazing?
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Almost home to Clarksville. Of course its raining... it rains on all of our trips.
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We went to the Marina for gas and during the potty break we noticed all of these carp assembling/begging next to the dock for some food. Doug bought a bag and fed them - he entertained us well. He then left the rest of the bag for two little girls that were enthralled with the roiling water as they swarmed for the food. Two young girls>enthralled. Two Young girls>grossed out; we left before any more thrashing transpired.

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What a beautiful form my wife of almost 35 years has. I can hardly take my eyes off of her when she is gliding effortlessly across the water. What a beautiful form she has maintained... and oh she can really ski well too.

Doug taking his turn behind his boat.

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A Picture of Rachel, Eric's Younger Sister

We met Eric's St Louis family a couple of weeks ago and naturally we all talked about baby resemblance - isn't genetics a wonderful mystery. We were given a picture of Rachel as a baby about the same age as Panama is now - there is certainly a striking similarity. Good news Panama as Rachel has grown up to be a very attractive young woman. (Courtney is pretty as well -and what a budding photographer. I loved your pictures of the Biltmore, you should consider being a blogger, sharing some of your great photos with the world.) Well, we have determined one thing and that is that Panama is in good genetic hands. She won the DNA lottery; now where do we cash in her ticket.
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August 14, 2009 Erica and Michaels Fifth Wedding Anniversary

Michael and Erica decided to celebrate their 5th Anniversary quietly without a lot of fanfare at a very nice restaurant in Nashville called Valentino's. I have attached their website in case you want to check out their menu. I am sure that Erica and Michael would not mind, even though they were sort of wanting their Anniversary to be kind of intimate and romantic. I am sure that their friends all knowing what they did will only enhance the romantic charming memories of their night out.

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Anyway, I decided to do a little research and gave Michael a few tips on some potential wine selections. Everyone from California knows that "Opus One" is the wine to order for a very special occasion. I mentioned this but he already knew that. I suggested an alternative wine that he did not know much about (my personal favorite) in case the Opus One was sold out. I have attached the website of both of them in case you want to check it out. Again, I am sure that they would not mind us sharing in their quiet night out.

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Anyway, after they left I decided to check the restaurant wine list out; I went to the Valentino website and found out that they sell a 2004 Opus One for $401/bottle. I will be curious to find out when they get home if they ended up getting this bottle of wine or did they perhaps take my second suggestion, a fine wine that I buy for Carol and I all the time called Blue Nun. As you know, Carol has a very refined palate for wines. She doesn't want me to brag, so usually I bring the bottle in a paper bag. I have also attached a nice description for both the Opus One and Blue Nun in case you do not have the time I have to do a thorough web search.

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http://www.valentinosnashville.com/

http://www.opusonewinery.com/

http://www.bluenunwines.com/

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Opus One

Vintage 2004: The harvest ended October 1st with the lowest per-acre yield since 1987. Showing a lustrous dark ruby, the 2004 Opus One presents aromas of violets, cedar, black tea leaves, black pepper and brioche. A soft, creamy entry gives way to a concentrated mid-palate: elements of cassis, toffee and cocoa round out the rich flavors.

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Varietals of Opus One

Cabernet Sauvignon 86%, Merlot 7%, Petit Verdot 4%, Cabernet Franc 2%, Malbec 1%

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Barrel Aging

17 Months - New French Oak

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BLUE NUN QUALITÄTSWEIN (translated loosely from the German website by blog host)
With the famous BLUE NUN on its beautiful blue bottle, you know you got some kind of good wine here. Our wine is made from grapes grown in Rheinhessen on the banks (and in the swamp outlets) of the River Rhine. This is a fine, medium-bodied mostly white or dark wine, now perhaps a little drier than you might expect, (like can you sip and immediately spit a watermelon seed 5-feet? We think not.) scented and usually quite delicious. It’s particularly good with poultry, especially gamy tasting red & white meats, older vintage seafood and awkward tasting eastern dishes. Versatile enough to go with most foods, ice creams, chocolates and especially goulash, also things made with heavy doses of ketchup. Our Blue Nun is even great to drink on its own. On our way to the winery each morning, we see many of our friends in the alley doing just that.

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Varietals of Blue Nun (from their ISO approved procedure manual)

Grape juice, fresh squeezed or from can, 50% of container by volume, add water until the color starts to give out. OK if you exceed (lean out) the color a bit as we will put into a blue bottle.

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Barrel Aging

No wood contamination, only plastic tubs used for brewing and aging, mostly bought from WalMart, so are really good and they age well, have not had to buy any new ones for awhile.

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Its Saturday, its Hot, Lets Go Swimming at the Gym!

It is Saturday, the yard is mowed, no one has homework so... lets go swimming!

Oh boy, instead of hopping right into the water, Nana slobbers every inch of my bare skin with some kind of stinky lotion, then she puts this stupid hat on me. Dang, I am the only kid in the pool with a stupid hat on. Oh me, oh my... One of the babies in the pool laughed when I got in. He yelled "Hey outa da pool, you are leaving an oil slick". Real funny... another one yelled, "Hey I had cradle cap that looked better than yours." I hope Grampa comes to rescue me soon.
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Later Grampa grabs me away from Nana and takes me to the inside pool. He threw the stupid hat in the garbage can when Nana wasn't looking... you rock Gramps! Now we are having some fun in the water... Can it get any better than this? Grampa hanging onto me and letting me splash, splash and splash. Can it get any better than this?
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Yeah... it gets better. Grampa just told me that he would bring me back again soon, without the hat, without the lotion. I am a lucky baby - my grampa pretty much dotes on me.
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Rain Again and a Meg/Pancake Visit

Rain again last night. I saw in the Wall Street Journal today a picture of the Public Library basement in Louisville that was flooded with the 6" of rain in one hour that they received. We were luckier than Louisville but we did get quite a deluge from the NW and a bit of hail. It has been a very nice and green summer for us... a few extra bugs as well and a zillion little pollywogs are out and about.

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Megan and Panama came to visit and stayed all afternoon til after supper.
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Panama likes to pick flowers. She looked cute today in her pretty little blue dress and matching shoes.
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Panama wore her hard working mother out - she took a little nap prior to supper. She ignored the Fed Ex man and the dog barking...
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I Was Dreaming All The Way Home

Carol and I were returning from a wonderful weekend with friends on the East Coast. I drove half way and was suddenly taken with a severe tiredness. This is very unusual. Carol immediately offers to drive and I fall into a very weird dream. I first dream about a bug, a very big bug. I tried to catch it with my fingers to move it away, but its tiny little legs kept moving escaping my grasp. I finally will myself away to another memory.

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I see a pretty young lady with eyes that are half open... not open and not shut. I could not imagine why were eyes were not open to the world. She tells me... I sit here day after day, servant to the birds that bathe in my waters... I am happy that they are happy and clean, but I am not happy that I am here. My eyes cannot open all the way as I am not certain that I want to see any more than I do now...
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I think that I woke up as the car was slowing down... I remember seeing a line of cars and trucks winding through the mountains. I remember recalling that my wife was driving and that I could relax again...
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A sudden diesel shrill startled me... I looked up and this is what I saw. A large hole with cars traveling toward a very bright light. The light was brighter than any light I had ever seen. I remember asking Carol if the bright light hurt her eyes. She said no, it was a pleasant glow. It really hurt my eyes... I remember thinking that I should try to be as good as she is... she can go to heaven without sunglasses... I close my eyes again.
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I remember waking to a loud snort, not an ordinary snort but one that can only be generated by a person in an upright position in a very uncomfortable car seat. I open my eyes and see tangled webs in front of me. I wonder if I am a fly caught helplessly in a spiders' nest. I come to my senses and am amazed that it is only my head hitting my knee. I relax. I breathe a deep breath snort free...
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We have parked at the house of my first grand baby. I get out of the car but I am not yet awake. I see my grandbaby in a nest of fabric, I cannot understand what it is until someone mentions that it is a hammock. She beckons me hello, not with words but with a slight smile... I know that she knows that I am still dreaming... her wry smile tells me that she has joined me in my dream...
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I see you grampa as you do not see yourself... you sometimes see me as a perfect angel. You remember me as you remember your daughters at my age. You are remembering all of the wonderful times that you had with them... but you are forgetting that there were...
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some pretty noisy times as well. However, you should not remember the noise, you need to remember the quiet times so that you stay asleep. There are more things that you need to dream...
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I am an infant just like your daughter was an infant... I rely on your love to keep me safe. Thank you Grampa for loving me.
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My next memory is of a baby that is very sad... I say quietly to the baby... have you left me my little one? You look so sad at this moment? She says, no Grampa, you left me... sometime in the future... but sometimes I miss you already.
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Holy Cow! Are you the same sad baby that I just heard from? No Grampa, I am from a baby full of joy because I am in a hammock that my Mama brought from Nickeragua and that my Daddy built some hooks... Lets have some fun now!
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The fun times are easy for me to accept... but they are not always the bouncing rolls on the floor, laden with giggles and tickles... sometimes they are from the quiet stacking of very small components, where our fingers touch and I feel them all the way to my heart...
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And then, sometimes the fun times are a dang knee slapping good time. You roar with laughter and I wonder, in amazement what could possibly be so funny. Those are the times that my lips do not necessarily curl high in laughter but sometimes just stay low to catch the salt from above...
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We continue our way home, sometimes in the rain, to another precious collection of special hearts. Oh shucks, my second baby has gone to bed...

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