John McCutcheon and David Sedaris

Friday night we met up with our good friends Mark and Kris at West Side Folk where we enjoyed another great folk concert.  This time it was John McCutcheon.  He played the banjo, autoharp, piano/keyboards, Hammer Dulcimer, guitar and more.  He also tells stories.  His Christmas in the Trenches is worth the 6 minutes.

Last night Helen gathered her book club (along with spouses) and we enjoyed a nice dinner ...

before attending "An Evening with David Sedaris."  If you don't know David Sedaris, he also tells stories.  Funny stories.

Helen's favorite story is "6 to 8 Black men" which you can hear (in 3 parts) here.  I really enjoyed his Airport Story in which he humorously comments on the fashion choices made by young American men and also tells of the secret code of flight attendants.  Unfortunately, I could not find it online.

It was a fun weekend of friends, music and story telling.

John and Kim get married

John Freeman got married last night.  You remember John, the hard working middle school student who wanted help with math.  The one who Samantha tutored for YEARS.  You know ... the one who hated math soooooo much that he drew elaborate pictures of Samantha and the various and gruesome ways he hoped she would die.  Multiple arrows to the heart.  Tons of TNT on top of her head.  Samantha falling from tall buildings while he stood at the top and laughed.  Amazing things with hatchets and swords.  Yep, that John. He got married last night.

Papa Glenn captured the first dance.  

Maybe he's no math wizard, but John (Bobe) sure figured out how to catch a beautiful bride.

You did good John.

(Flashback to Thanksgiving 2008.  Kim and John are immediately in front of Samantha and Jake.)

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday was a beautiful day.  Spring had sprung and the sun was shining.  We invited friends and attended the Potwin festivities including the Egg Hunt ....

the Peep Contest ...

and the Pot Luck.

Afterwards, Helen and I walked to Nancy's where we enjoyed an Easter Dinner Feast with the Gs.

Happy Easter to all.

Andy and Donna get married!

The weekend of March 26th, 27th and 28th was amazing.  Melissa's birthday was the 26th, Andy and Donna got married on the 27th and Jake's birthday was the 28th.  Here's the deal ...

On Friday the 26th, we traveled to Springfield for Melissa's birthday.  SACII and Cheryl prepared a birthday feast complete with red cake.

Yes, we did get a group photo.

The next day Andy and Donna got married.  Dad performed the ceremony.  

Followed by dinner ....

and BIG pieces of wedding cake ...

and lots of photos ...

and some dancing too ...

and the garter belt toss.  Guess who got it?  

Check out the victory lap.

The next morning we gathered at Hemingway's Restaurant located in the Bass Pro Shop (an experience in itself) for a Birthday Brunch for Jake's 30th birthday.  There was cake and a speech ...  

and presents too.

Yep, after this much exposure to Crows, Jake is loaded for bear.

We all had a blast.  We then all headed our separate ways home.

  

Donna and Andy are honeymooning today in Bora Bora.

Happy birthday, wedding, birthday!

Three funerals, a snow and the Mariachi Estrella

In the last 2 days I've attended 3 funerals.  Yesterday's funeral was for Nile's mother Aylene Fowler who was like a second mother to me when I was kid.  Unfailingly generous and loving, here she is with her beloved Ike.

The second was today as we attended Sherwood Smith's funeral.  Sheree's father and long-time Potwin resident, Sherwood was an accomplished architect who was loved by many.  Despite his frown in this photo, he was not a grumpy man.

Between the first two funerals, we endured a record snowfall for March 20th.  Trying to match the spirit, I've been playing Christmas music all day.  Helen is mildly amused.  While I hate to be a complainer ... winter is over, isn't it?

Today we also attended the showing of the documentary film "Mariachi Estrella" at White Concert Hall on Washburn University's campus.  It is about the formation, success and tragedy of the first all-female mariachi band in the US.   Started in Topeka by Gina Mentzer's grandmother Teresa Cuevas, 4 of its founding members died in the tragic Hyatt Regency skyway collapse in 1981.  Still going strong at almost 90, Mrs. Cuevas inspired us with a mini-concert after the film.

Oh yes ... the last funeral was late this afternoon for the Kansas Basketball team who lost in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament.  Did I say I was ready for spring?

The only way to fly

This morning I had a business meeting in Salina and instead of driving, I hitched a ride in the client's Beechcraft King Air C90GTx.

Small, but super comfortable, it is the only way to fly.

We'd rather wear jeans ...

In our 30s and early 40s we thought it was great fun to get dressed up and go to fancy parties.  Funny thing ... at this stage of life, we'd rather wear jeans.   In the last month we've attended lots of fancy events where a tuxedo was suggested.  Last night marked the end of our dress up parties for the next several weeks.  Here we are with our friends Mary and Glenn at the Topeka Collegiate School Auction last night.  Ties and all.

Bring on the jeans.

Sewer Solution

Our sewer problems are solved!  This simple and effective solution was on our back steps this morning.

Thanks Dan and Joni for solving our sewer problems. Thanks also for the reading materials.  Gotta go.

Sewer Superman .... more snow

Last night we were rescued by Sewer Superman who was able to unclog the city sewer line.  Here is Superman's phone booth from which he saved the day. 

It was just in the nick of time as today we received yet another snowfall.  

Thanks Sewer Superman.

PS.  I realize that some of my legion of readers may not be all that interested in the Crow Sewer Saga.  Sorry to bore you.  Nevertheless, the CSS has just begun as the city disclaims any responsibility for keeping the sewer line clean.  Stay tuned for the next exciting episode.

Vactor 2100 Series

Helen may have a Dyson Ball DC25, but look what I got.

Yep, its a Vactor 2100 Series sewer cleaning monster.  This baby is beautiful.  It visited our alley late Friday night to clean out the city sewer line.  The front end lowered a massive auger-type cable into the manhole and in less than 3 minutes, it traveled over 400 feet looking for a clog.  Very, very, cool!

Unfortunately, it did not find a clog and our sewer line remains plugged.  (We think they cleaned the wrong sewer line.)   Even so, the Vactor 2100 Series makes the Dyson Ball DC25 look paltry.  Eat your heart out Helen.