Hello Little Black Honda

Yesterday, the Lawrence Police Department found Libby abandoned near the corner of 6th and Indiana Streets in Lawrence. When I arrived at the impound lot, this is what I saw:

I'm not sure where she's been for the last couple of weeks but, due to the sunscreen she's wearing, Samantha suspects that she's been vacationing somewhere warm and sunny.

Welcome home, Libby.

Ruth Crow dies - February 14, 2016

After a 9 year battle with Alzheimer's Disease, Ruth Crow died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Valentine's Day 2016. Here is a photo of her from 1963.

I love you, Mother.

Goodbye Little Black Honda

In 2007 we bought a 1999 Honda Civic 5-speed.

 It was used by several foreign exchange students, friends and family. Due to its front-wheel drive, I often drove it in the ice and snow. Besides, driving the standard transmission was kinda fun. Over the years, it was driven by Philipp, Jorge, Harald, Jake, Monica, Jonas, Ryan (who named her Libby), Mark and Steve. Libby was great. She delivered more than one Christmas tree

 and because her back seat folded flat, she was great for hauling stuff around. Anyway, last Tuesday night she disappeared from our driveway.  Yep, when I returned home from the KU basketball game, she was gone.

I like to think that Libby is now being used to drive around the sick and elderly. Or to deliver food to shut-ins. Or maybe just having a vacation somewhere exotic. Well, it could be true.

Thanks, Libby. Goodbye.

Dad's and Mother's 68th Wedding Anniversary

Today is my parents' 68th wedding anniversary.

Lynn organized a fantastic dinner party with her daughter, Chef Anna, making us a fantastic meal.

It was really snazzy ... with fancy dishes, a spectacular centerpiece and dozens of pictures from the last 68 years.

  It was a huge success.

Happy 68th Anniversary to my wonderful parents.

Leonard Cohen says it best:

George loves Apples .....

George loves Apples.

All kinds of Apples.

He even wears Apple clothes.

Ruth Gardner turns 87

Along with her new friends at the Aldersgate Village Memory Care Unit ... 

on January 12th we helped Oma celebrate her 87th birthday with a yummy double chocolate birthday cake

and colorful fun presents.

Happy 87th Birthday to Oma.

Christmas 2015

This year we took Christmas to our parents. We had a nice Christmas Eve dinner at Aldersgate with Oma and friends

followed by a Christmas Day blow-out at the Gs' house.

That evening Jake treated all of us to a first class Christmas Dinner of Steak Oscar ... now known as Jake Oscar. It was exceptional. Photos followed.

While I was able to get the traditional cousin photo,

but somehow, despite spending days together, I missed getting a family group shot of Samantha, Jake and kids.

Somebody else took this photo ... to the tune of

"It Must Have Been The Mistletoe"

Merry Christmas 2015.

Sewer line for Christmas

After babying our decrepit sewer line for years, it finally shot craps. (Aren't I a funny guy?) The project involved digging a 100 foot trench (6 to 9 feet deep) from the house to the alley and burying a new line. No big deal.

 Maybe a yard in the spring. In the meantime .... flush.

TEDx Topeka

TEDx Topeka.

Tonight we attended TEDx Topeka where we were captivated by 8 fascinating and stimulating presentations by Topeka people. It was a total blast.

Topics included:
"The Power of Humility in the Age of the Selfie"

"Growing Solutions to Feed the World"
"Taxation Myths and Realities"

"Neuro Linguistics Programing: The Female Mindset Redefined"

"Transgender in Kansas"

Topeka is cooler than I thought.

International Desserts

Today we hosted AFS foreign exchange high school students for a Holiday Party featuring International Desserts. They each bring a dessert from their home country

and tell of a holiday custom and how their family celebrates it. 

These kids are great. 

Only 9 students this year. But everyone of them is a winner.

Oh yes ... Verena, the Mueldener's exchange student from 2002-2003, was back for a visit. She is very accomplished and super sophisticated.

It is really fun watching these kids grow up. Most of them do it sooooo very well.