thing #44

re thing #44: spend a day volunteering for a good cause...

Monday June 22nd was spent on the Katy Trail. Each year, there is an organized ride covering the 227 miles of the Katy Trail.

The ride is done in segments over five days and alternates each year from East to West - or West to East. Over 200 riders participate. Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the ride brings awareness to the Katy Trail and to the natural beauty of the plant and animal resources in the State of Missouri.

Day One of the ride went through the June Marie's Mystical Mile, ergo Jenn and I were compelled to offer our time for that segment of the ride. We served as "sweeps" - meaning we were the last two people on the trail. The SAG stops (Support And Gear) ahead of us did not close until WE arrived... indicating that there were no other riders to come through.

There were a group of kids on the ride from an inner city school - a few of whom who had never ridden a bicycle before training for this ride. The school purchased bikes for the kids through a grant - in exchange for public and school service from the children. This is a group that I would like to spend some time with... and I hope that the program is successful in the coming years. What a positive and healthful activity for the kids... and a great opportunity for me/us (you?) to be a role model and share our love of cycling.

Never mind that it was 98 degrees Fahrenheit that day. In the shade. We had a great time and look forward to helping out again next year.

dallas

The last stop on our Texas Tour was Dallas. We have our good friend, Jim, to thank for a great evening. We enjoyed a cocktail at the Belton Hotel overlooking the Dallas skyline.
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... and enlisted a stranger to take a quick picture of the three of us ...
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Thanks to Kathy for the coaching on Priceline... we enjoyed a room at the Hyatt in Downtown Dallas for $50.00 for the night - $65 smackeroos when all was said and done with taxes and fees. I just love a good bargain, don't you?

corpus christi

Next stop... Corpus Christi. From San Antonio, we headed to south about two hours to Corpus Christi. We enjoyed a lovely walk on the beach and a lunch of crabcake sandwiches right at the water's edge. Have I ever mentioned how much I absolutely love a good crabcake? Yum!!! Yum!!! Yum!!!
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In the bay floats the USS Lexington Museum. We did not have time to go through it, but would definitely like to spend a day on it next time we are in Corpus.
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Ed's cousin Lety and her family were marvelous hosts! Below, they stand in front of their new home which they move into less than a month ago. It is in a cozy little neighborhood just a block away from the school which the children attend.
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The photo below is very much in character of the kids. It doesn't make it difficult at all to guess that they are siblings!
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After a big morning breakfast, they led us back to the freeway. I wasn't quite sure what I would get when I snapped this shot as we were both moving at freeway speed. The photo turned out well, though, as Carlow bids us farewell...
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san antonio

Ed recently spent several weeks in San Antonio doing his Reserve duty for the year. His assignment was as Wilford Hall Medical Center, known in the biz as "Big Willie."
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While on the base, Ed took me by the building in which his military career began twenty-some years ago. Below is a shot of where he spent his time in Basic Training - the all purpose barracks and classrooms.
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Oddly enough - his brother, Chad, completed his Basic Training in the compound right next door. The building looks strikingly similar... no?
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And what trip to San Antonio is complete wihout a trip past the Alamo?
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a magnificent machine

Check out my Dad's new wheels...

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Isn't she a beauty??!!??

thing #93

re thing #93: ride a bike on a full moon in june...

I've been thinking lately. A lot. Just about a year ago, I lost a very dear friend to a brave, yet horrific battle. All battles must be that way... brave, yet horrific. Her spirit soared from her broken body on a full moon ... last June.

Soooo... this full June moon - even though it was day - I rode. It was a ride I'd ridden many times with my dear friend... sharing countless conversations of joys and sorrows and challenges. But this time... it was her bicycle I rode, not mine as in years past. And I thought of her soaring about the heavens...

I miss you June... we all miss you more than you know.

memorial day

The troubled world can offer no award

To you who sleep beneath the chiseled stone.

You died because we handed you the sword,

And we are free because you sleep alone.

The tides of history well may change the cause,

And time may blunt the sharpness of the debt,

For sacrifice, a nation under laws

Is gathered here today, lest we forget.

~ Robert A. Hall ~

peeps

We have enjoyed having *Peeps* on our doorstep for the past few years. It is truly amazing to observe the cycle of nature with a *birds eye view*!!! The nest is built within a day or two by a pair of purple finches, and before long the female has taken up residence...

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The Peeps were born a few days before Mother's Day this year. The male was very involved, active, and watchful in the whole process. In the image below, he is feeding the little ones... just a few days old. The female has gone in search of food as well, and will soon be back bringing food and warmth...

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Below... five peeps in a very poopie nest!!!

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The image below was captured Friday morning as the little ones were preparing to leave the nest. They would roost on the raised twigs and practice flapping their wings.

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We didn't actually see them fly off, but before we knew it there were only two peeps left in the nest. Ed and I debated about whether they just weren't mature enough to leave the nest, or whether they were females and left the nest later than the first three. We'll never know... but alas... our nest is now empty!!!

commencement

We headed to Lawrence on a beautiful afternoon to celebrate Chris's commencement from The University of Kansas. He's got a few hours to finish up this summer... but we're really proud to have another Jayhawk in the family!!! In the image below, Chris is second from the right.
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Commencement exercises at KU are steeped in tradition. It was especially wonderful to celebrate the day with Chris, as I experienced the fun of a KU commencement nearly 25 years ago (ack!!!). Below, we are standing atop the hill, looking through the campanile... through which an seemingly endless stream of graduates is soon to walk.
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Further down the hill, we wait and watch as the stream of graduates flows down the sidewalk and into the stadium...
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Our beloved Jayhawk... King of THE HILL!
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Before conferral... a small eddy in the veritable sea of soon-to-be alums...
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Part of the platform party...
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And of course - the address to the graduates *as seen on the jumbo-tron.* First... the Chancellor of the University, Dr. Hemenway... a man with a very sharp sense of humor...
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And the Executive Vice Chancellor... Dr. Atkinson... Dean of the School of Medicine and the chief administrator of the KU Medical Center in Kansas City...
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A parting shot... the campanile. This image was taken from inside the stadium looking back up the hill. This is the bell tower through which each of the graduates walked...
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Rock Chalk Jayhawk... and good luck Chris!!!

wake-up call

Most of my friends have *critters* in their lives... of the four-footed furry variety. Any of you who do can describe a plethora of different growls, barks, meows, or hisses... much like a mother would describe the many different cries of an infant.
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Our little darling (see 11-Apr post) is absolutely no different. She is up at the first crack of dawn each day... walking over us, meowing at us, staring at us, pacing the bedroom. This morning, however, I received a good tongue lashing because of this:
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You would have thought that her little world was coming to an end. Oh... the wailing and the whining! All for naught - as her world was righted with a refreshing of the water bowl and a refill of kibbles. Notice the most important part... the tasty little treats atop her food. Her morning treat!
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Now... back to bed for me...