Father's Day 2015

Father's Day in California

and here.

Fathers and sons hug and smile.

Mother turns 90 - Ruthie's Rollers

On June 13, 1925, a wonderful person was born in Valley Falls, Kansas. 

Known as Ruth, Ruth Marie, Ruthie, Mother, Granny, Aunt Ruthie or GreatGrandma ... she turned 90 years old today. In her honor, Heidi organized a team to participate in the June 13th Alzheimer's Walk. We named our team Ruthie's Rollers.

After the walk, and after meeting Nancy's new puppy named Dexter ...

 we headed to the Kansas State Capitol Building to admire the multi-year $325,000,000 rehab. It is breathtakingly beautiful. 

The frozen custard snack afterwards saw Hope lead her mom and Carly in an impromptu dance performance on G's stage.

Mother's 90th Birthday dinner brought us all together again. Melissa even drove in from St Louis.

Thank you, Mother for being who you are.

Happy 90th Birthday.

Arkansas 2015 - Swingin' in the Rain

2015 marked the 20th straight year our golf group traveled to Bella Vista, Arkansas, for a multi-day golf marathon. This was the year of Swingin' in the Rain. 

Not to be deterred, rain gear was donned, 

casual water was crossed

and swollen creeks were forded.

Despite the wet conditions, golf was played 

and white golf shirts were worn.

We had a blast!

Sports weekend in California

Last weekend I traveled to California to see George ... and his wonderful parents. While Samantha and Jake are doing a great job of raising George, they are not exposing him to nearly enough sports. Ta-da ... Gramps to the rescue. We did some lawn bowling

flew some kites

and shot some hoops.

Sports are good.

And so are George and his parents.

Dad turns 89

Dad turns 89.

Crows gather to celebrate.

Topeka Metro Bikes

Topeka now has a bike share program. In cooperation with the Topeka Metropolitian Transit Authority, Topeka Metro Bikes allows riders to use a bike for 2 hours a day for $25 per year. Yep, only $25 per year.

The geeky-cool red bikes have a GPS system allowing riders to know (via a smart phone app) which bike rack hub has bikes available for rent.

I'm sold. In fact, I've been taking bicycle safety classes (no kidding) though the Topeka Community Cycle Project

a non-profit designed to encourage a more bicycle-friendly Topeka.

Bicycle riding is a sport. 

Sports are good.

George and his little sister

George leads his mother, and his unborn little sister, toward home. 

3 more months.

22 hours in Minneapolis

Easter weekend was a buzz of jet engines and airports as we flew to Minneapolis Saturday afternoon to visit Mark and meet Hanna, a German cousin (actually a second cousin once removed) from Wuppertal who was visiting Mark over her Easter break. (Red glasses must be in the family DNA.)

Mark threw an informal soiree (his term) that introduced Cousin Hanna ... and her travel companion, Anja.

After a casual Easter Brunch with the girls, we jetted home so we could give our parents Easter hugs.

Here's another cool thing ...

We know these guys that own, and masterfully operate, a DJI Phantom ... also known as a drone quadcopter.

This thing is operated by a remote control that incorporates GPS technology and your cell phone. As you can see, it carries around a high definition camera

that can capture sharp and vivid photos from interesting and unfamiliar angles.

Fun stuff.

Here's a cool thing ...

Samantha and Jake recently gave me a Bheard Sound Pod. It amplifies ... with amazing quality and in a really cool way ... the tiny speakers on your phone. Available in several colors, here is mine in toothbrush green. 

The Bheard Sound Pod is but one of many creative products made by b_hold, a company started by one of Samantha's Google buddies, Susan Taing, with a focus on cool ways to hold ordinary things. 

I first met Susan in 2006. She is a fellow surviving crew member on rookie Skipper John's hair-raising and multi-hour maiden voyage aboard a sailboat (aptly named Surprise) on the wickedly turbulent waters off the coast of Santa Cruz in the Monterey Bay. Survivor Susan is 3rd from the left. 

It was one of the scariest days of my life. I will be eternally grateful to Survivor Vaughn (far right) who actually knew what he was doing ... thanks to his competitive sailing days in college. The only photos that day were "calm water" photos which can be seen here. Taking a turbulent water photo was out of the question.

Without Susan knowing it, I have always felt a special "fellow survivor" bond with her. But for Vaughn, b_hold may have never been born. Come to think of it, neither would George.