Elaine and Mona visit

In the early 1980's, our friend Elaine moved out of state.  Fortunately, she stayed in touch with our mutual friend, Mona.  Last week, and 28 years later, Mona brought Elaine for a visit.  We laughed, watched old home movies ...

and then laughed some more.  While Helen may have maintained her dignity and poise ...

I didn't ...

It was fun.  Yea for old friends!

48 hours in DC

Since we had not yet seen SRC's apartment, we flew to Washington DC for 48 hours for a quick visit. Here is an exterior shot of her apartment building near DuPont Circle:

That night, we walked to the Adams Morgan District for an interesting quasi-dinner at the Ghana Cafe.Unfortunately, JQ had to leave the next day. SRC helped him pack ...

and we all briefly visited the Washington National Cathedral ...before taking JQ to the airport. The next morning we had a lazy breakfast ... before returning home. It was fun.

George buys a car

George saves his money and buys a car from a buddy in Lawrence. Yeah George!

DWC Birthday - Obama Inauguration Day

On the same day, 2 historic events occur. DWC has a small birthday celebration in Topeka ... while some folks celebrate a different historic event with a slightly larger crowd in Washington DC ...
SRC and JQ are there. Do you see them?

SRC attends Barack Concert

SRC attends the historic Barack Concert at the Lincoln Memorial and sends this photo from her iPhone.

Oma the octogenarian

Today ... January 12, 2009, Oma turned 80.Do you think I will ever learn to call her Venerable Mother?

Anniversary trip to Florida

For the 3rd year in a row, we celebrate our New Year's Day wedding anniversary by traveling to Florida for a week of total relaxation on Anna Maria Island. As before, we stay in a little cottage at the Tradewinds Resort surrounded by the Bay on the east and the Gulf of Mexico on the west. Here is a shot from our porch: While there we read books, rode bikes, did yoga on the beach but mostly ...

we did nothing. Our only scheduled event was to witness the spectacular beauty of the daily sunsets. Each one is different and this one even included surfers.
After putting the top down on our rented convertible, we drove to Siesta Key where the quartz beaches are vast and almost blinding white.
It's a great way to start the new year. Happy 2009.
32 and counting.

Christmas - Boxing Day to New Year's Eve

JQ arrives the day after Christmas and just in time for Boxing Day.

He brings with him fun gifts from his mother. While we have never met, I'm convinced she is fun and interesting. SRC invites friends overand the Kansas winter brings us sun, snow and ice. While SRC and JQ leave for DC, we enjoy a quiet New Year's Eve with a few special friends and 139 Nutcrackers.
New Year's Eve ... the Eve of our 32nd Wedding Anniversary.
Happy 2009

Christmas ... Eve and Day

The Christmas Holiday started with us attending Christmas Eve service at Potwin Presbyterian Church. The small robed choir did not look impressive but WOW ... it included 2 professional opera singers! It was beautiful.

Christmas Eve dinner at Oma's house was traditional, tasty and peaceful. Christmas morning was at the G's where Cheryl performed omlette magic while the guys dressed as Santa pimps. A group photo and gift exchange followed: Christmas evening brought family and friends together on Greenwood for Christmas Dinner. Smiles were everywhere.

A group photo was taken ... and special gifts were given.Merry Christmas to you and yours. Wishing you peace and love.

AFS Party ...

For the past 10 years (or so) we have been hosting the AFS Holiday Party where high school students from all over the world tell us about their favorite holiday from their homeland. They also make, and bring, their favorite homeland dessert for everybody to enjoy. Despite the scant turnout this year, it was fun.

While the students helped decorate our little "good-smelling" Christmas tree, HRC provided the finishing touch with her unique, yet effective, garland toss.