After a long week of hospital waiting rooms, stress and worry, Arkalalah was a welcome relief! Marvin's mom is now out of ICU and back on the regular floor, doing well! Here is a brief rundown of the weekend behind us:
Saturday - We left early Saturday morning, stopping briefly at the hospital to check on Helen, who was doing well, then headed to Chas's house to meet Chas and Shane, and picked Candy up in Derby. After a short visit with my mom and step dad in IXL, we finally arrived for the 76th Annual Arkalalah celebration, the theme of which was "Seuss On The Loose", in honor of (who else) Dr. Seuss! We spent the first couple of hours walking the streets, passing people whose faces were familiar, but whose names we lost in oblivion. We cruised through the craft show without buying a thing, then headed back downtown for lunch from street vendors. After stuffing our faces with all sorts of junk (much of it on sticks), we settled in to watch the two hour parade. The theme of the day was well carried out by all participants and with the exception of a couple of gaps in the parade line, it was a huge success! As the parade concluded, we made our way to Green Door for dinner, followed by a tired, but contented drive back to Wichita. I don't think we could have mustered another hours worth of energy among the five of us!
Sunday - Sunday morning found us sleeping in until 9:15 or so, then we took in a really badly made movie, followed by really badly made eggs and biscuits. By the end of the day, we had accomplished several chores, including catching up the weekend laundry and finally closing the pool for the season!
The highlight of Sunday was watching Jimmie Johnson take not only the lead, but the race, in his eighth victory of the season at the Atlanta Motor Speedway! Johnson succeeded in closing the Gordon-Johnson point gap to a mere 9! Meanwhile, Jr. gained some meaningful face time with a fellow driver as he careened down the speedway backwards after losing his left rear tire.
We concluded the weekend with pumpkin pie and coffee, on the deck with a roaring blaze in the fire pit. All in all it was a great weekend!
Be Well!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
And so...
It's been a while since my last post...no apologies...just life. This has been a busy time for our family, as this time of year always is. The weather has completed the transition from Indian Summer to Autumn and leaves are finally beginning to don their fall colors. I detest the cold, I abhor wet, dreary days and I absolutely pine for sunshine! That being said...I also adore the magnificence of fall foliage and I do find the sound of winter winds whipping around the house, as we snuggle up inside, oddly comforting. Each season has much to offer...some just require a bit more effort in defining those offerings.
We spent last weekend on the road, attending a wedding in Missouri on Friday evening, then continuing on to Coffeyville to spend Saturday night with my dad.
The wedding was very pretty, as weddings tend to be. The Bride, of course, was radiant...and the Groom very handsome. Instead of a Unity Candle, the couple chose to do a Sand Ceremony, which I had only seen previously on television. It was very cool and I would recommend it to anyone in the 'market' for such a thing. Shane and Candy nearly outshone the Bride and Groom and were by far the most attractive couple in the room, and Chasity turned heads all evening with her new figure and hair style and was the most attractive single gal there!
Before leaving Missouri, we stopped at a place called Lamberts (Home of Throwed Rolls) for lunch. It was probably the most unique place that I have ever eaten at! After ordering a meal from a vast selection of comfort foods, a cart laden with big, soft, warm, yeast rolls appears and the waiter begins throwing rolls across the room to anybody who wants one! Shortly after he moves on...along comes a girl holding a metal container full of mollasses...and drools it on your rolls!!! It was soooooooooooo yummy!! In the midst of all of this...our meals were delivered...followed by more servers carrying metal bowls containing the stuff dreams are made of...fried potatoes and onions...black eyed peas...etc. It was a dieters nightmare!! We threw caution to the winds and ate ourselves silly!
Upon arriving in Coffeyville, my dad took us on a driving tour of the devastation resulting from flood waters a few months ago. It was extremely interesting and heartbreaking at the same time! The depth of the floodwaters was over 6 feet in some areas...and in many areas was combined with a nasty oil slick from the local refinery...which sprung a leak adding to the disaster. Altogether, at least 350 homes and 75 businesses were destroyed. Amazingly...only one life was lost.
Saturday night found us at the home of my dads new girlfriend, where we cooked steaks out on the patio and enjoyed an evening of conversation and relaxation! We met some of her friends, which she fondly calls "The Yaya's", and I swear to you...one of them had to be the model for "Maxine"!
Sunday was another travel day as we journeyed home to catch up on laundry before going back to work on Monday.
Marvins mom was scheduled for a 'minor' repair on her pacemaker on Monday afternoon, which turned into a real mess. The doctor was unable to complete the repairs and her body became very angry at having been invaded! After a very difficult night and day, she has settled down again and the surgery has been rescheduled for Thursday afternoon...please keep her in your prayers!
That brings us to the here and now! I got home at 2:00 today and immediately began working on the pool. Due to a series of rainy days and not being home...the pool has yet to be closed for the season! It is scaring the heck out of me. I am so afraid that a typical Kansas weather event will kick us in the pants (or pump)! If the temp should drop below freezing...and the pump is still full of water...it could end up being VERY costly. I vacuumed leaves from the bottom this afternoon until my hands were almost numb...and applied the first of three solutions for winter closing...so hopefully we will be able to do the deed before the weekend! After completing the vacuuming...I went to the basement and retrieved my Thanksgiving decorations and distributed Pilgrims, pumpkins and an overflowing Cornucopia. I feel much more "Autumnish" now!
Be Well!
We spent last weekend on the road, attending a wedding in Missouri on Friday evening, then continuing on to Coffeyville to spend Saturday night with my dad.
The wedding was very pretty, as weddings tend to be. The Bride, of course, was radiant...and the Groom very handsome. Instead of a Unity Candle, the couple chose to do a Sand Ceremony, which I had only seen previously on television. It was very cool and I would recommend it to anyone in the 'market' for such a thing. Shane and Candy nearly outshone the Bride and Groom and were by far the most attractive couple in the room, and Chasity turned heads all evening with her new figure and hair style and was the most attractive single gal there!
Before leaving Missouri, we stopped at a place called Lamberts (Home of Throwed Rolls) for lunch. It was probably the most unique place that I have ever eaten at! After ordering a meal from a vast selection of comfort foods, a cart laden with big, soft, warm, yeast rolls appears and the waiter begins throwing rolls across the room to anybody who wants one! Shortly after he moves on...along comes a girl holding a metal container full of mollasses...and drools it on your rolls!!! It was soooooooooooo yummy!! In the midst of all of this...our meals were delivered...followed by more servers carrying metal bowls containing the stuff dreams are made of...fried potatoes and onions...black eyed peas...etc. It was a dieters nightmare!! We threw caution to the winds and ate ourselves silly!
Upon arriving in Coffeyville, my dad took us on a driving tour of the devastation resulting from flood waters a few months ago. It was extremely interesting and heartbreaking at the same time! The depth of the floodwaters was over 6 feet in some areas...and in many areas was combined with a nasty oil slick from the local refinery...which sprung a leak adding to the disaster. Altogether, at least 350 homes and 75 businesses were destroyed. Amazingly...only one life was lost.
Saturday night found us at the home of my dads new girlfriend, where we cooked steaks out on the patio and enjoyed an evening of conversation and relaxation! We met some of her friends, which she fondly calls "The Yaya's", and I swear to you...one of them had to be the model for "Maxine"!
Sunday was another travel day as we journeyed home to catch up on laundry before going back to work on Monday.
Marvins mom was scheduled for a 'minor' repair on her pacemaker on Monday afternoon, which turned into a real mess. The doctor was unable to complete the repairs and her body became very angry at having been invaded! After a very difficult night and day, she has settled down again and the surgery has been rescheduled for Thursday afternoon...please keep her in your prayers!
That brings us to the here and now! I got home at 2:00 today and immediately began working on the pool. Due to a series of rainy days and not being home...the pool has yet to be closed for the season! It is scaring the heck out of me. I am so afraid that a typical Kansas weather event will kick us in the pants (or pump)! If the temp should drop below freezing...and the pump is still full of water...it could end up being VERY costly. I vacuumed leaves from the bottom this afternoon until my hands were almost numb...and applied the first of three solutions for winter closing...so hopefully we will be able to do the deed before the weekend! After completing the vacuuming...I went to the basement and retrieved my Thanksgiving decorations and distributed Pilgrims, pumpkins and an overflowing Cornucopia. I feel much more "Autumnish" now!
Be Well!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
My contribution to Arkalalah...
Go Cat Go...
Just on the eve
Of the Autumn bequest,
When the bears were all sleepy
And the trees were at rest…
Along came a party
For all…young and old,
With a beer garden…
…Or so I am told.
I mention this only…
Because you will see,
How this purveyor of spirits
Came famous to be.
A feline in a cap…
Who we all love and know,
Yes…the Cat In The Hat…
Was the star of the show.
The queens were all sashed up
The floats in a row…
The pancakes were cooking,
When it started to snow.
He felt not the chill
All covered in fur,
But all those around him
Were uttering “brrrrrrrr…”
And soon his concern
For this…his big day,
Mounted and grew…
In a troublesome way.
Sending his minions
To do a dark deed…
Unhosing some hoses,
And releading some leads.
Soon the Cat manned a booth
From which he called out…
Come let me warm you,
Put this in your mouth!
They lined up quite quickly
With goosebumps galore…
As the Cat poured them toddies
They called out for more.
Goosebumps all gone
Along with some clothes…
The warmest ones there…
Drank straight from the hose.
Policemen and firemen
All run amuck…
As atop the big bank
Mayor quacked like a duck.
The Shriner’s decided,
To start the parade…
They fired the cannon
Right onto the stage.
The floats began moving,
Quicker than ever…
They went up Summit and down,
Then straight into the river.
The Cat looked about
And made a quick note,
Get more booze…
All you can tote!
And so it went on…
For three frenzied days,
Some folks, legend says…
Are still in a haze.
Arkalahlah is well…
For that I am glad,
As for that Cat…
He’s still in rehab.
Copyright©2007 by VSchoonover. All rights reserved.
Just on the eve
Of the Autumn bequest,
When the bears were all sleepy
And the trees were at rest…
Along came a party
For all…young and old,
With a beer garden…
…Or so I am told.
I mention this only…
Because you will see,
How this purveyor of spirits
Came famous to be.
A feline in a cap…
Who we all love and know,
Yes…the Cat In The Hat…
Was the star of the show.
The queens were all sashed up
The floats in a row…
The pancakes were cooking,
When it started to snow.
He felt not the chill
All covered in fur,
But all those around him
Were uttering “brrrrrrrr…”
And soon his concern
For this…his big day,
Mounted and grew…
In a troublesome way.
Sending his minions
To do a dark deed…
Unhosing some hoses,
And releading some leads.
Soon the Cat manned a booth
From which he called out…
Come let me warm you,
Put this in your mouth!
They lined up quite quickly
With goosebumps galore…
As the Cat poured them toddies
They called out for more.
Goosebumps all gone
Along with some clothes…
The warmest ones there…
Drank straight from the hose.
Policemen and firemen
All run amuck…
As atop the big bank
Mayor quacked like a duck.
The Shriner’s decided,
To start the parade…
They fired the cannon
Right onto the stage.
The floats began moving,
Quicker than ever…
They went up Summit and down,
Then straight into the river.
The Cat looked about
And made a quick note,
Get more booze…
All you can tote!
And so it went on…
For three frenzied days,
Some folks, legend says…
Are still in a haze.
Arkalahlah is well…
For that I am glad,
As for that Cat…
He’s still in rehab.
Copyright©2007 by VSchoonover. All rights reserved.
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