The night before the Night Before

All is quiet at te LeRay House as Brad is in his third day home and recovery. Though a little rocky (he did have open heart surgery), he is doing quite well an is cheered up by Diana and Brad's granddaughter McKinna.

Phil sold his house finally today and celebrated by getting high... well going to the High Museum at least in downtown Atlanta and navigating through Atlanta traffic.

And so it goes as the star night approaches.. Hope all of you reading this are well and have a good Christmas...

Phil

Message to Garcia

On NPR this morning VisQueen's Flotard (singer) tells the story of being with her father as he died of Cancer. She has named her new album "Message to Garcia" because her father used to tell her to go read "Message" whenever she had doubts about whether she could do something. You should be able to get the link on today's broadcast. I remember the context as being for us when we questioned why we should do something; we got to go to our room and read "Message to Garcia."

end of era

Breaking news: As the World Turns is ending its run. Between mother and Grandmother Ward it was really a part of our collective history. Grandmother Ward made aprons for Nancy and baked cakes for Granpa. When I was at OSU, I would go by for lunch on Tuesdays. One day the Doctor made the mistake of coming by for a house call during the program. Grandmother Ward scolded him in not a kind way to come back after the show and to watch the time more carefully in the future.

Sunset in Honduras

Back from Honduras. Had a good trip. visited about 7 villages. Everything appeared to be relatively settled in the countryside after their recent political upheaval. We met beautiful, funny people. We hope to do a building project in the village of El Carmen in the coming year.

Dave is 89

Brubeck that is. Dave is 89.
Here is a photo your brother took a long time ago.

Link to my Brubeck area.

Just became a Horns fans

Hook 'em , Horns. I never liked Alabama or Sabin... but what a close game. For those who do not know, the Nebraska coach Bo Pelini was a defensive coach for LSU and was good.

We are expecting heavy snow tonight. House still not sold but closer.. and so is Christmas... and s is New years and so is...

looking for a three letter word with a "Q"

We had a nice thanksgiving visit with Diana, Brad and Nancy. Good food, conversation and walking. Later that evening, we adopted alter-egos for a rousing game of scrabble. GG, Turkey Fat, Two Ton, aka TT, and Slick met at the table of truth for a knock down drag out battle of the words. After the match several vowed to study short words using x, z, and q's. Looking forward to Christmas.

Off to Honduras tomorrow for four days to check out a project for our church.

Thanksgiving Walk--Geese

Took an early and then a late Thanksgiving walk around the golf course here. Walked through a herd of mule deer, one buck with 8 pts. was eying me as if I should be his dinner.. but he let me pass.



Her are some geese photos.

Time for fun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgbNymZ7vqY

Let's talk football-- for a second..then zen out..

I see possible battles coming: Florida vs. Texas might be a sister v. sister war. Then we have a possibility of Oklahoma State and LSU in the Cotton Bowl and even Oregon State and one of those two in the Cotton Bowl.

I haven't had this much conflict since Eckart Tolle met Thich Hnat Hahn... in the World Pro Zen Wrestling contest.

Hope everyone has a good turkey week.

Phil

Welcome Barbara

Barbara,

I thought that you would want to be aware of similarities between your sage Dr. Lupinheimer and a character in the book our Book Club just discussed, Thomas Mann's Magic Mountain. The Assistant Director of the International Sanatorium Berghof, Dr. Krokowski is strikingly similar in dimension to DL. Although he does not do dentistry, he assists in the treatment of the tuberculosis patients but also does a good bit of psychiatry. Later in the book, he does a scientific investigation of the paranormal. He is not nearly as charming or obviously attractive as Dr. Lupinheimer. fyi

The View

Rim to rim anyone? Several people I talked to indicated that as beautiful as viewing from the rim is the view from within is something else. They also say that for every hour down plan on three hours up. Another guy said that if it wasn't for his kids he would have sold every piece of gear that he was carrying as he hiked up just to lighten the load. Driving around Arizona reminded me of driving in that area in the 50's in a Buick sedan packed to the gills or of driving through there with a German hitch-hiker in the seventies when we decided that a side trip to the Grand Canyon would be indeed a grand idea; or driving to Prescott Arizona with Emily to check out a school when she was shopping for colleges and then taking a side trip to Jerome to see the vistas. With the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, at his beck and call, Phil takes all this blather as low-lander hysteria.

Onion boy arrives

I like the rim Idea, Kelly.

Onions. First you boil them till they are almost done, Then you make a white sauce-- butter and flour then add 1/2 and 1/2 with some mysterious ingredients. I like dill, curry and some other mysterious spices. I melt some cheeses into the mix too.

Then put the onions in a pan for the oven and pour the sauce over it . Sprinkle over Romano or Parmesan cheese and bake for a while longer.

The white sauce should start with melted butter then blend with the flour and spices and then add half and half.

There are no set measurements..

I made some a few weeks ago for a pot luck. Works with carrots and other veggies too.

Here is a gneric recipe and some links to otheres.

Cut this recipe in half for a smaller family dinner.

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds small white onions, peeled
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 5 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups low-fat milk
• few drops hot sauce

Preparation:

Place onions in saucepan. Add 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and enough water to cover. Bring onions to a boil; cover and cook 20 to 25 minutes. Drain and set aside. For the sauce: In a medium saucepan, melt butter in saucepan; blend in flour and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Gradually add milk; cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Stir in hot sauce. Drain onions and add to the sauce; heat through and serve.
Creamed onions recipe serves 10 to 12. More Onion Recipes
Sweet and Sour Onions
Sweet Onion Casserole
Onion Muffins
Onion Mushroom Casserole

Ho ho - nobody is talking.

Oh well. That's the way blog-0-sphere is. Peoples gots things to do. Anyway, in case anyone looks today, what is the onion dish that Phil/Kelly has made for thanksgiving? Baked onions? Something? I just remember they were good.

Thanksgiving update

Hi all,

Looks like we will go down to West Columbia for Thanksgiving and I will cook turkey and fixings down there. Trevor gets to go with us and his only request so far is that there is a TV set available late in the afternoon. Some game between UT and a far inferior "wannabe" team from College Station, TX.

I think it will be a fun time and as long as I get to do some cooking, I will be happy.

I think if I remember right, Phil is staying put because of teaching schedule, Diana will be in Baton Rouge, and Kelly will be in Tennessee? Or maybe Kelly will be in St. Fran and Diana will be in ?

Well, where ever we all are, I hope we remember to eat well (no chance of that not happening) and enjoy whoever we are with (another easy task).

The sun just came out

We got some much needed rain yesterday and it looked like it could rain any minute all morning. But just now the sun broke out and it is so lovely.

I saw a really good singer/songwriter on Saturday. His name is Billy Crockett and about 10 years ago he and his wife bought a place in Wimberly, Tx and opened up a music venue for other singer/songwriters. I have never been there because most of the concerts are on Thursday night and it's just too hard to go and then get up the next morning and go to work, but the place is suppose to be so beautiful, I will just have to make it happen sometime. He had not been preforming away from Blue Rock, his venue, since they bought the place, but a few months ago he decided to start going back out and so I got the opportunity to hear him. Quite a guitar picker.


Happy Monday.

Sewanne Choir CD

As I told Phil, the Cd he sent of the Sewanee Choir that they taped in the 60"s is really good and well worth listening to. The solo chanter is really nice to listen to.

Diana has a contribution

Do not show the kiddies this - it even scared me.

No sneaux here

We have no snow here, but we do have fabulous weather. Evenings are chilly but days are 70s and sunny. So far we have not had to turn on our furnace.

We had a really nice time at the Wurstfest and Jack ran into a trumpet player/professor with whom he played in a brass choir back in the high school days. That was really fun.

We did not see (or experience) Walter Sr, but the brewery is not functioning right now (new owner, licenses, stuff like that) so we did not spend much time in the bar and that seems to be his favorite place according to one of the front desk folks. Does make you wonder if one needs some sort of stimulant in order to "experience" that particular ghost.

November is upon us and time keeps marching on :-).

Your The Reason God...

Well made something... I have been listening to NPR. They are doing a series of stories on Oklahoma. Below are links to one of the more interesting ones and then links to some I found but do not reflect well on our heritage... Oh well..

1. Oklahoma and weather rock stars
2. Oklahoma and the economy: What Makes Oklahoma Ression-Proof
3. Oklahoma: The Reddest State- (and not dirt... well maybe...)


There was another story on crystal meth labs but we shan't link that one. Also Oklahoma is the second state to pick and official rock song for the state.. but I had never heard of it.

Of course the real reason we have Oklahoma is so we of the older (and odder if you type it wrong...) Ward generation can all say we were born there...

Ohhhh.. sneaux...

Halloween>>>

In fact the snow was not bad here... It will not deter some determined college studentsfrom using some well-known human anti-freeze to keep 'warm.'

These were out my window yesterday..

Seems like two teams that like orange and sometimes black and sometimes white will play this week.

An' the Gobble-uns 'at gits you, Ef you don't watch out!

Little Orphant Annie's come to our house to stay,
An' wash the cups an' saucers up, an' brush the crumbs away,
An' shoo the chickens off the porch, an' dust the hearth, an' sweep,
An' make the fire, an' bake the bread, an' earn her board-an'-keep;
An' all us other childern, when the supper-things is done,
We set around the kitchen fire an' has the mostest fun
A-list'nin' to the witch-tales 'at Annie tells about,
An' the Gobble-uns 'at gits you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
Out!

Wunst they wuz a little boy wouldn't say his prayers,--
An' when he went to bed at night, away up-stairs,
His Mammy heerd him holler, an' his Daddy heerd him bawl,
An' when they turn't the kivvers down, he wuzn't there at all!
An' they seeked him in the rafter-room, an' cubby-hole, an' press,
An' seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an' ever'-wheres, I guess;
But all they ever found wuz thist his pants an' roundabout:--
An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
Out!

An' one time a little girl 'ud allus laugh an' grin,
An' make fun of ever' one, an' all her blood-an'-kin;
An' wunst, when they was "company," an' ole folks wuz there,
She mocked 'em an' shocked 'em, an' said she didn't care!
An' thist as she kicked her heels, an' turn't to run an' hide,
They wuz two great big Black Things a-standin' by her side,
An' they snatched her through the ceilin' 'fore she knowed what she's about!
An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
Out!

An' little Orphant Annie says, when the blaze is blue,
An' the lamp-wick sputters, an' the wind goes woo-oo!
An' you hear the crickets quit, an' the moon is gray,
An' the lightnin'-bugs in dew is all squenched away,--
You better mind yer parunts, an' yer teachurs fond an' dear,
An' churish them 'at loves you, an' dry the orphant's tear,
An' he'p the pore an' needy ones 'at clusters all about,
Er the Gobble-uns 'll git you
Ef you
Don't
Watch
Out!

ready for Halloween?

I just can't help myself. Getting ready for Halloween...hope we get to see your costumes.

always working

always working

Otis and I are always working on some kind of project.

He wonders when he will get invited to be on a blog. His e-mail is otispotusbobototisotis@otispotomus.comsometimeandnotsocalmatothertimes please ignore the other non photo post.

Two Knoxvilles hon the way to this one

I was wondering if I was "there yet" as I went through Knoxville, Mississippi, Knoxville,Alabama on the way to this one in Tennessee. I offered to come up as a one man support team to help them take a breath inthe race of life. David is adding students to his teaching load and Emily just finished a show in Pookipsee, New York and is getting ready for another national show in Knoxville in December in addition to her teaching load. Otis is crawling all over and trying to reach anything he can see. They are doing well and having fun. Good news on the front for Erin and Mathew and McKenna . Toby called this morning to say that they are getting close to a decision on the next posting after Swaziland; should be exciting.

Headed to Knoxville

Tucker and her Security Associate

I am headed out on Monday to see Otis ,Emily and David and hang our for a week. We have the Yellow leaf festival in St. Francisville- music, arts crafts and other activities- today and tomorrow. It started with about five artists and a couple of musical act. Today we will have 70 artists/vendors, 12 musical presentations and other activities. Our Weirdo-in-town ratio will be much higher than usual. Kathryn and her friend Carolyn have a booth with paintings and quilted items. They mostly just enjoy sitting and visiting with those passing through. As for today all is well on this front.

Music to my ears.

Went to a hot springs last week and stayed in a yurt. Had a good time but had a very terrifying episode with a woman, her dog and hot springs that were not marked. The dog ran into the unmarked springs/hot.. and the woman ran in afterwards and all got stuck and were boiling... Rescue time of sorts...

Otherwise (Said Mrs. Lincoln), it was a great play.

ON ANOTHER NOTE>>>>>
I got a letter from an Georgia lawyer... actually a packet.. and thought, "Well, darn, Diana is suing me for misdirections on how to use this blog. " and I almost threw it away thinking it was an ad..
Glad I didn't. It was from a former class mate at Sewanee and friend who made a recording/ CD from tapes/ of the Swanee choir when I was on tour back in 68-69 period. I had a chance to listen to it last night and was stunned that I ever sang in a group that sounded so beautiful.
Do you all remember our tour through Louisiana then?

At the risk of sounding egotistical (me??? never...) I would be glad to make a copy and share it. I am thinking it is full of good 'Episcopal type' music that Kathryn might like and Steph came to the tour I remember ad maybe Diana too.

Steph, I will let you tell about the line: "I'm only 14 and besides, I'm Phil Ward's brother."

And on another 'note,' I played five songs in a benefit concert last night. I actually practiced for a few weeks and went beyond where I usually go.. I learned a very slow, soulful bluesy rendition of Brother, Can You Spare a Dime and then played Rock Me, Baby, Baby, Please Don't Go, Dusty Box Car Wall (Eric Anderson) and Coal Miner's Blues (Judy Collins among others, I think).
Two people said I sounded like Neil Young... or maybe it was Loretta Young..
I was really flattered as the mic system and acoustics were great for me.

My yurt accommodations...



















Later, Phil

Thanksgiving plans

This year I think I have talked the Crouches into coming to Marble Falls for Thanksgiving. It is a good year to break patterns with Bea gone. Besides, I have been wanting to cook the meal for many years. So I have begun to think about Turdukens and cranberry relish and yams and green beans. How about pies?

I talked to Diana Monday night and last night. She said they are planning to go to Baton Rouge this Thanksgiving, but for Christmas it looks like Atlanta (Smyrna) might be grand central station come December. I think (but don't know because it is too far away) that we will spend Christmas Eve/Christmas Day in West Columbia or Houston and then depending on the weather and level of energy (sometimes we just need time to ourselves, don't you know), I would love to drive far enough to see as many of you as possible. I know T, T, T and T might be around and Phil might be nearby getting his house ready to sell.

So that's what I am thinking right now, but we will see what tomorrow brings.

Cranes over the campus

Well, we may be cutting back on a lot of things at UT, but the cranes continue to move gigantic pieces of steel hundreds of feet above the ground to the new buildings going up. It is quite a graceful sight with the sun coming up behind it and condensation rising from the huge coolers 4 blocks away. From where I sit, I can see three tremendously large cranes on campus.

I guess I have officially decided not to get flu shots this year. Wish me luck or health or whatever. I cannot explain my reasons for not getting them other than it just does not feel right. Sometimes you have to rely on your gut reactions and hope that your gut does not rebel later on.

I know the leaves change in Colorado this time of year. I think the leaves change in the Northwest this time of year. Sometimes the leaves change in Louisiana in October or November. Tennessee - without a doubt. Atlanta? Maybe. What happens in Africa? In Austin and Marble Falls, not so much, but in about a month I have one tree in the back yard that will indeed start changing from green to reddish to yellow - and that is why I planted it. That and the leaves are so graceful. What kind is it? I thought it was a Chinese Pistache when I bought it and although it looks similar, it does not have the "fruit" common to a Chinese Pistache, so I just call it Lovely.

San Antonio, rain, and my weeds are growning

I had a really good time in San Antonio. The weather was "interesting" - some rain, some sun, some cool, some hot. I ate on the Riverwalk about 4 times - two breakfasts, one lunch, one dinner - all good. I have about decided that San Antonio may be the New Orleans of Texas. It is really hard to find a bad meal. I had planned to go see Jim Cullins at the Landing on Thursday evening, but got roped into a meeting and then by the time I got out of it was just too tired to go - that and I had to be up at 5 the next morning. If you go the San Antonio Riverwalk without me (why would you?), be sure and eat at the Original Mexican Restaurant. It looks like a typical touristy restaurant, but really does have really good food. They had the best pico de gallo, hands down.

On my way home I swung by Fredericksburg because I have been wanting a St. Francis statue for my yard and I knew I could find one there. Sure enough, I found one I really liked for a little bit of nothing, but I also found thousands of extra people because it was Octoberfest. I did not stop and drink beer with them, but I did have a nice glass of wine and some bread pudding at the Herb Farm.

We had one of Jack's old friends in for a few days when I got back (he arrived on Friday, I got home on Saturday) and had a nice time with him driving around the Hill Country, sitting on the porch, and going to see Zombieland, a movie I really did not expect to like, but thought was really funny (yes really - the gore was like playlike gore and didn't bother me hardly at all except when Bill Murray . . . never mind).

Now we have had some rain and my weeds with interspersed grass have grown quite tall. This next weekend I will get to play with the mower (if it is not raining) and maybe get to work on my room some more.

Well, that's it from Texasland on this bright, with a chance of showers Thursday.

Back to the real world and Diana's problem

San Antonio was great, but I had to be "on" way too much. I didn't even get to go listen to jazz.

Diana, evidently the invitation to participate only stays open for a while (a week or two). So it had expired. I sent a new invitation and if we get you on this week, you should have no problem. I will call you tonight to make sure all is well.

The same may be true of Emily and Erin. Since neither responded to the first invite, I may have to send it again. Kelly, let me know if Emily is interested and I will resend. Ditto Diana regarding Erin - after we get you on :-).

More later as I catch up on my work stuff.

Beware! Either the republicans or the crimson tide are sneaking through the bushes. Since I can not immediately subject you to my 300 photos from Africa I thought that you may enjoy one of an Elephant who was in front of our car; she was suggesting that we back off because she and her offspring wanted to use the road. We gently backed up to let them pass.

Fall-ish...

Well today is a fall day... football, falling leaves and falling temperatures. Diana called and is a member but cannot see how to post yet. If any of you read this, does Steph have to OK us before we post?

The pix on the left is kind of how Diana and I felt trying to get her to post and post.

I am so feeble minded I forgot.

Here is a bell weather photo for this week from Phil

Emily, David and Otis

Emily David and Otis came to visit as part of their whirl-wind weekend of wedding of David's sister, visit of grandparents/ great-grandparents and dinner at the Sage Hill Bistro. It was good to see them and they are doing well.

Late September Saturday

Right now I am sipping coffee and looking at a fiery golden tree in the back covered with ice. By noon or sooner it will melt and I will be walking around barefoot riding a bike and maybe watching some football or driving to a hot spring.

Something is changing this week in my attitude up here as we had a great teaching week and very few new H1N1 cases.
Perhaps it s because I have a real strong nibble on my house right now and have a win-win-win situation developing with my renters, me and the potential buyer.
When the imagination meets the realities, you really know where you stand. I am definitely ready to sell as the house and the post hurricane insurance culture there have really whipped me over the last few years.

Oh that ice came from the automatic sprinkler system that comes on at 5 a.m. no matter what.. The control guy s probably n Taos enjoying the end of summer.

Oh Jeff says hello and thanks Kelly for his thoughtfulness. He has the 'traditional ' cold now.

Next week - San Antonio

Yeah, I know that's not very far away, but believe me, it will be like a different country once I get there. Somehow I thought was a good idea to do two presentations and I take the reins of our Graduate Student Advising Commission - the out going chair won't be there because of budget cuts and so I will go to the meetings she was suppose to go to, go to the meetings I am suppose to go to, do my two presentations, and be cheerful to everyone I meet. It will be a busy 5 days. So if you don't hear from me for a week, carry on :-).

Bust

I said yesterday Honduras or Bust. Well, the deposed President returned and is at the Brazilian Embassy. Street protests and roadblocks and closed airports make it difficult to do what we were going to do. So I will be here instead. Emily and David and Otis are coming this weekend for his sister's wedding in Covington so that will be a good reason to be here. Listening to a Beatles Album at the Birdman. Great Songs. Phil-remember the Ed Sullivan Show broadcast in the Parish Hall at St. James? Later.

Honduras or bust

Off to Honduras Wednesday. We are going to check out a possible building project in a small village as a follow-up to a school we helped build last year. We fly into San Pedro Sulu and travel around the area. Our new priest, who is from Columbia and speaks fluent Spanish, and I are going with some folks from St. James and St. Luke's. It will be good to travel with a native speaker as I try to absorb some of the language. Adios!

earphones and ipods

Every once in a while I try to use headphones and an ipod like device and just don't stay with it. I think it may be because I always have so many songs going through my head anyway. Sometimes when I am listening to music, I find myself turning it off because another song just came into my head and I want to listen to it instead. I know for a fact that it is very hard for me to have music on when I am doing something that takes concentration. I can have music on if I am working on my room - tiling, painting, hammering - but if I am reading, working on a paper, or something like that, I can't have music on. I don't know if it's because when I listen to music, I listen to music - it is not just background music. So when I am painting or tiling, I can listen to the music and be painting at the same time - but I stop the music if I leave the room so I don't miss anything, even if I have played the album a hundred times before. If I ran, I imagine that I could listen to headphones, but if I am walking, I am usually too engaged with the walk to want to have headphones on.

Just curious is all.

Mary Travers

Just heard on the radio that Mary Travers died yesterday. I feel sad that she is gone, but also joy that she added so much to my life. Always a gentle voice, but strong and just. Her songs always stay with me.

Just want to say thank you, Mary.

Tate and Tucker in their garden in Swaziland displaying flags that we painted for their cousin Otis(flags to be delivered shortly). Their yard is a great place for bike racing, tree and rock climbing, makeshift golf, hammock swinging, hide and seek baseball and a rousing game of hide and find the gold. Later we set up a mega-play dough station and stargazing station on the patio. We bought a pogo-stick in South Africa but they we not qute big enough to stay on it and Toby and I were too big for it-later.

Dinner with Trevor and Dona

Had dinner with Trevor and Dona last night. I fixed spaghetti and I thought it was pretty good, if I do say so myself. Would have been better if I had had lots of fresh tomatoes and really made the sauce from scratch, rather than just mostly made it from scratch. Makes me think again about what it would mean to have a good garden and grow some of my own food. Old conversation that never really gets old.

Who out there has a garden? Herbs? Veggies? Flowers? - - - cactus? I have some herbs, which I use as often as possible. Mostly basil and mint and bay. And I have cactus and could use nopalitos more often than I do. I could also make prickly pear relish. Watch out - you may get some for Christmas this year :-).

Just want to say I know how lucky I am that I get to have dinner with Trevor once a week and see him regularly. I am very happy about that.

Hasta lumbago!

I went to a great concert on Saturday

I go to these house concerts that are "singer/songwriters," folky, sort of concerts and the one Saturday was really great. The whole time I was listening, though, I kept thinking of David. The guy of the duo was tall, dark-headed, could play the guitar, mandolin, uke, and banjo like nobody's business, and really funny. Not comedian funny, but subtle, thoughtful funny.

The duo is from the Fayetteville, Arkansas area and is called "Still on the Hill." They used to be a foursome and played more "bluegrass," but they were not purist enough for the bluegrass circuit so they went to just the two of them and they play what they want, which was all very good.

One of the neat things is that they really seem to get to know people and notice their stories (reminded me of Emily's faculty website and talking about learning people's stories in the most innocent of conversations). They had some handmade instruments with them that were made by a man in the Ozarks who had a vision when he had a heart attack where God told him to make instruments for children. They are truly one of a kind (the guitar that Kelly brought has a saw blade on the inside that gave it a really weird reverb when you put your ear against it). Check out their website if you want.


http://www.stillonthehill.com/index.html
http://www.stillonthehill.com/pictures/instruments/index.html

Later, alligator.

Back from the banks of the Limpopo and Zambezi Rivers.

I am back from my travels to Africa. Had a great time visiting the 4 T's. They are all doing very well. We traveled about 2000 miles through Swaziland, South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. I will report in more detail as I gather my thoughts. Travel was good and flights were on time. Jeff, all of the region is getting ready for the World Cup 2010. More later.

So did we even have Labor Day back then?

Just kidding. But what did we do on Labor Day? Anything special? I remember 4th of July - I liked the snakes. Did not like sparklers - I could go on and on about why.

On another note, I was trying to think of all the songs we sang with Daddy Harry. We joke about only being taught "It was Saturday Evening," the Kappa Sig song, "John Jacob Jingle Heimer Schmidt," and "Three Little Mice," but we actually did sing other songs. "She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain" "Go Tell Aunt Rhody" "Red River Valley" "There's a Hole in the Bucket" But what were some of the others?

And did we sing at Mimi and Papa's? I remember picking out songs on the piano. Exodus! Bum, bum. Bum, bum. Bum, bum, bu , bumm, bum-bum. Heart and Soul.

Art and Labor

My Entries in an art show.. Your titles welcome..

Going to Galveston this weekend

We are going to go down to see Jack's dad this coming weekend and then drive over to Galveston. We have not been over there since Ike and don't really know what to expect, but they have an air museum that Jack's dad really likes and it sounds like a nice day trip so off we go.

I am having dinner with Trevor tonight and installing Snow Leopard - the Mac upgrade. I know, that sounds pretty exciting and I'll tell you all about it :-). Trevor and I try to get together for dinner once a week, but if either of us have something going on we postpone it. Last year I used the night to watch House, since we essentially don't have a TV. But the new season of House has not started yet so - technology!

What are you guys up to?

Friday

Whew. I think I made it through the week. Tonight we will have pizza and hopefully I will set on my porch and watch my hummingbirds fight over the feeders.

Hope all you had a good week and we can just wonder about Kelly and The African Wards. A student who is in Washington State told me what beautiful weather they are having so I will assume that Jeff is enjoying good weather because everyone in the Northwest has the exact same weather, right :-).

Happy Weekend!

Ted Kennedy and the graves

In the Houston Chronicle's obituary/ front page story on Ted Kennedy's death, the reporter ask him (a few weeks ago) what he planned to do on Thanksgiving. Kennedy knew he was dying and said he wanted to go sit on his brothers' graves alone. I learned today he will be buried nearby.

That stunned me because I have done that. I have sat in the dark in Arlington Cemetery on both JFK's grave and Robert Kennedy's grave nearby.

A month after Robert Kennedy was assassinated, I went to visit Hunter Horgan at seminary. It was hot, we were wearing cut off's and t-shirts and watching some dull movie and drinking beer. I asked him what we could do for fun and he said, 'Let's go to Arlington and see Kennedy's grave."

So we did.

I never thought we would get in but it was wide open.

I never thought we would get t the grave site but we marched right up the hill and no one challenged us.

The beer buzz was wearing off and I asked Hunter if he thought we were being watched. He said , "Surely." So we wanted whomever was watching us to know we were not trying to sneak up or vandalize the grave.....

So being on Robert. E. Lee's former property, we started 'whistling Dixie' literally and as loud as we could.

We marched up the hill. No challenge. We sat down on the wall. The Eternal Flame was going and Robert Kennedy's grave -- which then seemed so close by JFK's was still a mound of fresh dirt... and a temporary marker. Later I learned it was basically a permanent one-- a simple cross..

Of course we were overwhelmed at that moment at where we were and that we were alone and that all of Washington, D.C. stretched before us all the way up to the Capitol Dome.

I commented to Hunter, and many times later, that I bet even the Kennedy family -- who all traveled together and with body guards and such, had never been here alone and in the still darkness... silent with the hiss of the gas flame on John Kennedy's grave-- one already settled in the dirt-- and the fresh smell of earth from Robert Kennedy's grave... and all alone to meditate or just sit.

Of course Hunter and I now were completely sober and in awe at where we were. I think we sat in silence for over two hours and did not talk..

When we slowly walked down the hill, we did not whistle Dixie or anything else.

Antique Cars

Schools starts for me Monday with threats of budget cuts, Swine Flu and overcrowded (or maybe under crowded) classes) so we start a typical new year. At least there are no hurricanes BUT we had a rumor there were earthquakes here last week.






But Saturday in Colorado in the early fall is glorious.. and one glorious thing is the sunsets along with things like the antique Car Classic.




Brother Phil

Have fun in Swaziland and I am swamped

Hi all,

You may have figured out by now that I am swamped this week. I got 46 new students on Monday and still have 150 others that seem to remain clueless about how to get registered. But it's all fun. I'll be back soon :-).

Music and travel.

Music and travel- Off to Swaziland tomorrow. Hopefully we will fly over any Atlantic Hurricanes and that they will stay away from the Gulf for a few weeks or more. We went to the Birdman for our Monday night music and heard a guy from Baton Rouge, originally from Lafayette, who played original songs for about an two hours. His name is Steve Judice and has had some play-time of Radio Free Texas in the past few weeks. We thought he was quite good-check him out if you can www.radiofreetexas.org

CD review

I am listening to the CD of Bill Frisell's New Album DisFarmer

It is the nicest new discovery I have made in music... well aside from the Big Damn Family album.

from Bill Frisell's album jacket..


Oh we had a 8 degree --- make that 28 degree--morning last week and the farmer's market is full of finished produce... beans and peas and such., I am making a nice veggie something.

The rifle woman

One of my most vivid memories was eating breakfast in Mother Berniece's kitchen when I was going to OSU. She was doing dishes at the sink looking out of the window. All of a sudden she ran toward the fireplace, grabbed the lever action 22 rifle from the mantle and ran out of the back door. As I followed her out through the gargage to the area near the clothsline, I heard a shot coming from where she stood. Then I saw two men in the pasture below with guns. She said, "Get off my land." They said, "We shot a bird and are just retrieving it." She shot again above their heads and said, "I said get off my land." They turned and left with out the bird. Daddy Harry, as usual, threw bird seed out again under the blackjack tree in the back that evening.

Summer time at the Glovers

Climbing on the rocks out back - they were ships, the grass in between the ocean and sometimes we were pirates. We would spend hours, it seemed, sailing our Oklahoma ocean. And some of the rocks were sand stone so we would rub them together and make things and toss them away when we moved on to the next thing. Later I realized there were probably lots of snakes, but they seemed to stay out of our way out there.

Fishing by the pond - I only remember catching some one time and we left them in a bucket in the garage to "clean" in the morning. In the morning they were gone and Daddy Harry said that some critter must have gotten them - raccoon or something. I don't know if that's what happened or if he went down and let them go after I went to bed. They were probably really small and too little to eat.

I used to play tag with Jim when I was off by myself. I would follow him for awhile and then walk up and tap him on his rear. Then I would turn around and walk the other way until he caught up with me and pushed me on my back with his nose. He seemed to know the game because then he would turn around and walk the other way. We could play this for a pretty long time :-).

And the cool basement. The walls were so good to lean on when it was really hot.

And the hammock, and how much fun it was to try to sneak up on someone and dump them out - unless they caught you and slugged you.

The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band

Well, I am listening to The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, The Whole FAM DAMN ILY. With songs such as DT's or the Devil, Your Cousin's on Cops, and Wal-Mart Killed the Country Store. Thanks Phil. Do you know these people? Just curious. True blues and the harmonica is really good. I do not have on the T-shirt because I'm at work and they frown on that, but this weekend I will give it a spin.

I will try to get back on pretty soon and think out loud about Mother B and Daddy H in the summer. And why we never got bit by snakes. It's a mystery!

spend ,spend,spend

From the family wisdom as I remember it:

Daddy Harry- save 10% of everything you earn and have at least six months of you monthly salary in the bank.

Upton- spend and enjoy and help take care of those less fortunate.

Richard and Cynthia-take care of your family; give them what they need.

At least that is my recollection.

I say put money in the economy, travel to see us.

The thing about blogs - and especially family blogs

Funny thing. As I was thinking about the news this morning and that I might throw out some thoughts, my some times active censor said, oh, but that might make someone uncomfortable. So then I had to think is the blog about having nice, safe conversations that we might have around a thanksgiving table and does not go much below the surface of how hot it is - already covered that, how Phil and I remember different things - covered some of that. Well, some of the best conversations I have around the thanksgiving table are the ones where I am trying to convince someone or they are trying to convince me - not the ones about how moist the turkey is and what's in that green bean casserole.

So, the news people keep telling us in order for us to get out of this recession and be prosperous again, we need to be spending more. But I already spend too much - I have debt, I buy pretty much what I want, I don't have room for more stuff. And when we go into town for "entertainment" we often go to a bookstore (who doesn't like bookstores?), or the computer gadget store (gadgets are so much fun), or other things like that. But when I think about what I wish I had more time to do I don't say, "gee, I wish I had more time so that I could go shopping and buy stuff," I wish I had more time to work on my house, play in the yard, build a garden, sit and talk to Jack or one of you. Now don't get me wrong, I like books and gadgets and things - just look at my house and office. And there are a few more I hope I can get. But I really do think we, as world people, not just as Americans, would actually be better off if we spent less. If we had houses that reflect the size we need rather than the size that is expected. If our cars were just for transportation and not a reflection of where we are in the social food chain - whatever that means (oh, dear, another rant I can save for later). We could do that and still live happy lives. But what would happen to the economy? Oh what tangled webs we weave when first we practice e-co-no-my.

So convince me.

Ho, ho. A lurker.

Yes, yes. I see that a LeRay has checked us out. Is probably saying, "these old foggies. Don't they have anything better to do? :-). Well, yes. Sometimes.

Welcome.

Temperature

We are expecting another 101 degree day. We were having temps like this in June and July and have only rarely gone below 100 during the day. It takes its toll - ask Diana and Erin. My tomato plants look so healthy and I water them everyday, but they have pretty much told me it is too hot to give me any presents.

Yet in my mind I am trying to adjust to the fact that this may be how it is every summer and be cheerful about it. There is no doubt that I have gotten more used to the temp and do more things outside than I did two months ago, but I will be happy when the temperatures go down again. We have gone back to having dinner on the porch, but with as few clothes on as we can decently get by with. I worked on my stepping stone Saturday morning for about 1 1/2 hours and was really glad to get inside for awhile. A friend and I did some cactus shopping on Saturday and I had to watch to make sure she came back out of the greenhouse because it was probably about 120 degrees in there.

What is it like where you all are (am I punishing myself by asking)? I know I could look on the weather map, but that doesn't tell me what you do outside and how it feels. Sailing? Ahhh. Just the thought of it cools me down and makes me happy.

KINDL-ing curiousity

Steph--

You have the most experience with a Kindle. Should we get on that techno train? Tell us your experiences..

The Manitau Springs Fun House Arcade (red and white)

I went to Manitau Springs for a day... and the Garden of the Gods... wow what a mind warp. The old arcade is still there and it brought back a flood of memories I had forgotten.

There was a mud spa next door that Cyntha and someone... Shirley, Rhoda, a friend??? went to as we played next door in the Arcade.

They still have the old arcade games... and I remembered playing at least three.
Thre was a gun one, a ball game with circles that you had to bounce into (the name now escapes me but it is like fooseball in sound..with an s in it ..not the game).. there were machines with lightsyou squeezes to find your 'love zone' wherre an old light bulb lite up... random I am sure Peep shows. Old pin ball games. There was a monkey( who can't remember a very scary monkey) that played the cymbals and his eyes rolled and teeth bared.. when you turned a wheel.. Bumper cars, and very small carousals, and more i am sure. Five different old rooms r shops and the smells were just as memorable as the sights and sounds..

and the salt water taffy... I saw the brand logo and knew it was salt water taffy before I asked..

I did not carry a camera but should have.. it was a match day doing this and that quickly..

Next time...

Oh we are having forest fire smoke again in August. I will post one spectacular sunset photo from last night soon./

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6N_hVPRt-o

Oct. 16 - I have it on my calendar already. Can't wait.

Tonight I pour my first step for my room. I got it ready last night and just have to go get the concrete and dye tonight. It's a pain getting older (literally) because I have to be so careful of my back. Steady as she goes.

So my new phone will let me record my own ringtones and I am going to set one up for each of you. Kdog, I though "In the jungle" might be good for you since you keep going back and forth to Africa - although "He ain't nuthin but a hound dog" might be better. Phil the Elder - Red River Valley or a Dylan song? Diana, Skye Boat song or something more current? Let me know. I have several ideas for Trevor and Jack. Don't make it too hard because I plan to sing them in - not download them.

I am leaving for Swaziland on August 18 and returning on September 8-9. In addition to staying at Toby and Tanya's house in Swaziland we are also planing to go by car to Victoria Falls in Zambia/Zimbabwi. Depending on conditions we will either drive through South Africa and either Botswana of Zimbabwi. Toby says that it should be both beautiful and interesting. My last trip to Africa was very nice.

Gonna call Diana and see what's up

I think we need to see where Diana is. I know she is busy getting ready for school, but we need to get her on the blog.

By the way Kdog. When do you go to South Africa?

I have a new phone and stuff

Jack has really, really been wanting to upgrade our phones so he investigated the google phone yesterday and presto, we have new phones. Now, I have to admit that Trevor got a google phone recently so we had already heard good reviews about it. I told Jack I probably did not need a phone - I would just keep my old phone, but then I saw some pictures that someone took with their phone and changed my mind.

I am still in the learning curve part of having a new phone and today will be too busy to do much with it, but soon.

For those of you who have been to my house in the past year or so and know that I am remodeling my back room (for ever and ever), I have designed two steps to make the deep step down into the room safer (and prettier). I'm really happy with the design and have almost all the glass cut. I will pour the first one this weekend and when it is dry, I'll take a picture with my new phone and show it to you. I call it lotus petals falling.

A friend of mine was talking about the difference between manager scheduling and maker scheduling. Basically, managers schedule in hour increments (because they can) and makers like to schedule in at least half day increments, because they need to stay with an activity longer for it to happen. I realize that part of my life is conducted in manager timing and the rest should be maker timing. Now I just need to mesh them together in a constructive way.

Just musing :-).

A grammy in contrast to the old version

That version of the Trading Wards Jingle would win a Grammy compared to the tragically unmelodic version in the 50's on KSPI-AM at noon. Great photo.

Trading Wards

At least this is the way I remember it...

Trading Ward song

Howdy all,

I am so far behind I did not know Toby had a second kid.

The name Aunt Kathryn gave me awhile back. I like white russians but I rarely drink, although I do have this rug that ties my room together very well.

On remembrances, the one person I do not have any memories of is Cynthia (spelling?). Maybe I'll post what I remember of my great-grandparents later.

Welcome Dude. Good to hear from you. Your father and I looked like dude ranch dudes as we rode our horses in Gunneson recently. A great visit. I reminded Toby of the Blog; just talked to him on Skye and will be going to see him in Swaziland in a few weeks. They have updated their website www.tatesworld.com and have pictures of their trip to Capetown and other stuff. his email is tobias@tatesworld.com . Grad-cordinator on-the-run-send him an invitation.

Welcome to The Dude

Howdy Dude. Do you drink White Russians? Now if we can get a couple others of your generation watching (and maybe posting or commenting) it will be even more fun.

Mesa Verde

One of the really good summer reads is a book called House of Rain, about the Mesa Verde area and all but it is mire ta that... It is a good travelogue and a good view of how young (25-40) people ehre take risks.. This guy slides down valleys in the snow like 200-300 fet without skies and gets into roaring flood rivers on the flash flood desert... etc.

Here are some more photos from Mesa Verde... oh that is the incarnation of Kelly and I at the cliff's edge..




































Yeap I climbed it...

the rest are at
www.photofive.com

Cotton Bowl

I do remember riding with Upton and Richard going to the Cotton Bowl in 1958-- Jan. 1. 1959 to be accurate... and listening to this new guy named Castro lead a revolution to take over Cuba.. Upton kind of liked him... Upton also like Huey Long...Air Force played Texas Tech I think to a tie.
Nope-- I looked it up. From the Dallas Morning News--It was TCU, you Texas sports fans..
The 23d Cotton Bowl classic will be remembered as the Battle of the Fruitless Field Goals and Fumbles.

Mimi seemed non political as far as I could tell. I think her love was always sports/ golf at least and fashion .. and Mimi made a mean Apple pie too. She made her crusts from scratch and I used to love watching her roll them ... She was proud of that.

I think that is why I liked coffee so much..... I smelled it first at her house... then later at Mother Bernice's .
(I tried again to post this as a comment and it would not work.... ahhhh the cookie machine was left on. )

-Riding to football games on thanksgiving at the high school with Upton and Richard, the smell of cigars, coffee in the old Stanley thermos, and a smell I would later appreciate as the smell of good Bourbon.

-walking down to the barn fence to dump the "compost" for Jim and the chickens.

-visting with Upton in his hospital room when he was being treated for bone cancer. You just thought his stories were interesting normally; you should have heard his painkiller induced stories. I was like time travel.

So being the youngest has it's disadvantages

But I do remember some things. Gin Rummy and the air conditioner in the back room going full blast. Trying to catch the fan blades on the metal fan without cutting my fingers off. Eating on TV trays - it seemed so decadent :-). One time Mimi dumped out a big coin bank and told Diana and I we could keep whatever we could count. Give me a break - she was two years older. I was so worried about the loot she was counting, I could barely count to 10. Playing the piano or playing like we were playing the piano. The heat vent and straddling it in the winter until we got too hot to stand there anymore. Walking to Theta Pond and getting a wee bit too close to the swans. Watching couples "spoon" on the benches. The attic fan. Oh, it was terrific. Loud, scary, cool. And I was always wary of those closets under stairways. Someone told me there were monsters there (now who could have done that?), but they were not as bad as the monsters down in the basement at Mother B's and Daddy H's. And then there was that "garbage thing" sunk into the back patio. What was that?

More later. But I still want to find out about the years we don't know about.

A dozen rememberances

Well I was on the same path on your e-mails and will highlight some of the things I remember from age 1- 6 years old or so… little and big things.

Oh I went to Mesa Verde and saw a mountain lion but will post that later.

Episodic rambling and rememberings. Sorry, I tried to add this as a comment but it was too long. And I purposely left out any golf references as that is another whole post.

1. I remember the smells of Mim’s home .. more lately in Colorado. The big attic fan that they had upstairs… the whoosh when she turned it on and I would like to turn it on and off.. which of course drove her a little batty but she was OK with that. When we ate there, she did poached eggs and had butter on them.. Mimi was the ham, biscuits, pumpkin pie and "ice from the front of the refrigerator" grandmother; Mother Bernice was the tomato sandwich, fruit, yoguart and chicken grandmother.
   
2. Wheat bread was big, the coffee pot in her kitchen, I can smell it. And she would talk with that little click, click sound to make a point.
3. In the house they had little hide closets and Upton had the ‘latest cameras, gloves, hats, gadgets. I remember mowing their lawn with the first gas lawnmowers… one was a blade mower with a gas engine.. far to dangerous for a kid today. They had an electric one for a while but it was impractical. I am sure someone ran over the chord. I would mow the lawn and had to push it along the little hill and watch the flowers.
4. They had one of the first a.c.s and color tvs in town. They had that garage door (it started as a single garage and then they added on a double. With the buttons to open and close.
5. Mimi would take me walking in the dark around her neighborhood and we would stop at the Van Horns and the adults would talk in the dark late into the night in the back.
6. Once for no really known reason to me I stole a bike from a neighbors around the corner from Mimi and Papa. My only, well second only, attempt at a life of crime. I instantly ditched it and Mimi saw it all or a neighbor did. They talked with me in kindness. A few weeks later, Kelly and I both got new bikes—a red and green Schwinn from Papa.
7. In playing cards – mainly gin --Papa had his sayings. ‘Eighter from Decader, sweet Molly, and some others that are on the back of my mind right now. He used to smoke cigars but gave them up. He would fall asleep watching golf and snore, like Richard, like Kelly, like me….
8. We sued to spend te night on the roof above the TV room. Mimi would take out mattresses and we all slept outside. I remember hearing the oil wells in the distance and imagine they were monsters… dragons… coming to eat us. Also I was a star gazer then and loved the stars on her deck.
9. At Ward Buick, the cigar smells were stronger and you girls did not have to learn of the smells n the men’s bathroom where Papa’s cigars, Mr. Diggs pipe and Lysol was used to cover up other odors… including grease and Buick magazines.
10. As a kid Mary would take me fro rides to Chrystal Plunge… I ad a bad habit of throwing things about the car… Mary and I remembered that lately. She was really nice and never seemed to get angry.
11. A big, big thing was the new car showings. Then there were balloons and cake and free gifts and it was like a big party for the town. Then you gave away t-shirts and stuff with logos, you didn’t try to sell them. Then you saw ad smelled th new cars and the new model year….
12. Funny, I used to like to play the piano.. chopsticks and such at Mimi’s. She was pretty tolerant but there were occasions she would basically say, enough is enough. I never heard her play, nor anyone else there. But obviously someone taught me those songs. Heart and Soul, etc.

The older I get, the more I look on those years as truly wonderful. I just had lunch with a guy from a dysfunctional family. If we were, I did not know it. In Mimi and Papa’s home, it felt like post WWII and something akin to Ossie and Harriet… there was a quiet in it but more f solitude and spending the day there was one of relaxation. Oh yes, the phone downstairs and upstairs… and I remember Mimi talking on it. The number was 653 I the old days. Then 6653. I think The Glover’s was 2474. The sound of fans, the sound of solitude and quiet, reading a comic book or Life magazine, a kind of coolness from the trees and open widnows and breezes.. and Mimi’s smile and Upton’s soft gruffness that usually would break into a smile. And the stories… always stories..

Family history

Diana and I were talking about what we remember about Mother B and Daddy H - which is surprisingly little and we had conflicting remembrances - imagine that. So, we thought it would be a good idea to talk about what we know, what we think we know, and to maybe quiz Rhoda and Shirley again while we can. To that end, I am going to write both of them about what they know about Mother B's family, her younger days, how they really met, and so forth.

I was hoping Phil or Kelly would do the same with Mary about Mimi and her younger days and family. It's funny that it is both the grandmothers that we seem to know less about. But now that I think of it, I know a little about Wayne, and I know the family myths (which I blatantly repeat and believe on some level), but I don't know as much about them as I do the Wards.

What say you?

I had no idea that Phil was not the only published Ward

Well, I should not be surprised. I guess Diana and I had better get busy. Maybe it's time for me to gear up for the O'Henry Pun-Off next year.

On another note - had the flu or something for the past few days. My recommendation is avoid it if you can. Not fun, even if it gives you an excuse to sit around and read and play video games. But hopefully I am on the mend now.

I think sis Diana is being babysitter in the Florida Keys right now. Must be a hard life :-).

This is fun. Hope you all are enjoying it as much as I am. I will add Jeff today and see if we can talk him into a comment or two at least.

gift horse in the mouth

Thoroughbreds are spirited and feisty and fun
fast on the tracks they do run
look a gift horse in the mouth?
not if your from the south
cause they make good stew, soap and gum

(not sanctioned by PETA)

Playing the Ponies

Other than looking at a very nice sail boat, I was offered a thoroughbred horse for free today... IF I would stable him and take lessons to keep me from mistreating him ad killing myself.

I am contemplating it.
I am told the horse market ere is collapsing and owners will give away an animal rather than the glue factory or mistreat it.

I am also told writing is really good for your back.
Who told me?

Well the guy wanting me to take the horse of course.

The Devil Made Me do it but who made the kdog write it?

I, Phil the Younger Elder am the alter ego of Phil the Elder so don't blame him. However we have a very famous writer in our midst.. the Limerick King of the South. Since these are being passed around the Internet already, I thought I should share our spoils with the family.

Way to go, KDOG!! I will leave it to you to explain yourself and the poetic muses and the frame/contest that inspired and engulfed your mind:

Let Jean Wall out of jail?

I will not come up with her bail.

She is wily and mean,

A notorious fiend,

But only when cheap lies prevail.

Kelly Ward

Please let Jean out of jail.

I would gladly come up with her bail.

Not guilty, but pure

A saint, I assure –

Her heart as big as a whale.

Kelly Ward

Is anyone having a hard time commenting? Well I am... tell me the secret. I am logged in and all and obviously can post but not comment.

Ok Steph, I think I saw the problem. I was one layer away from posting... following the bottom links ad not the top ones.

It's not what we know r what we know we don't know that is the problem, it s being too damned smart and not knowing that we know nothing anyway.

This is a test from feeble Phil the Elder who just bought a used keyboard with 88 voices and whistles for his birthday. Chopsticks revised.

Oh I am on the trail f another sailboat. Anyone for a quick sail...

Phil

Phil the Elder and posting

I got an email from Phil the Elder that he had posted, but I don't see a post?? So, as often happens, I have to say "it's a mystery." Phil the Elder, when you are on the Blog site and logged in, look in the top right hand corner and see there is something that indicates that you can post. And then post. I will be waiting eagerly to see your addition. All of us are contributors so we can all post and comment.

Kdog, audio of jingle. Good question. I will do some research, but I may just have to make one. Hmmm.

Later folks.

audio link

Is it possible to get a recording of the famous "Trade with theTrading Wards" jingle to play as we open the Blog?

a

yada-yada

good to be with you...got up this morning feeling good...walked...coffee..saved deer..mowed yard...read criticisms of book club book for tonight...going to dentist...trade with the trading wards...yada, yada, yada

The beginning

So a friend of mine has a family blog and I wanted to try it. So here is the first posting. Maybe we can find out what we are all doing and avoid the "I thought I told you that - maybe I told Phil last time he called."

So what am I doing? Work is surprisingly busy. Jack has a new Miata so we have taken some short trips. We wanted to go see Kelly and Kathryn, but the 100+ heat has taken it's toll and we are not doing any more long trips (over 5 hours) this summer. (Sorry Kelly and Kathryn - but we are going to try to work something out later in the Fall when the weather makes top-down driving more alluring).

And I was not at first very happy with the recent Harry Potter movie, but after a good conversation with Trevor, I am re-evaluating my opinion. Go see Up if you haven't. My summer happy movie.

I think you are all able to add people if you think it is appropriate. Please do. I just wanted to get it started and hope it does not die a quiet death.