July 28, 2012 What Did You Do Today?

Luke and I went on a road trip to Topeka today.  CB was on the golf course; summer school is over; and I had decided to try to do something other than sleep all day.  

We had lunch at Red Robin.  Clearly Luke was happy with his burger.  He's got a bit of a Popeye thing doing on, don't you think?

Before you read further, you better get your magnifying glass or your binoculars.  I'll wait.

We were on our way home, west bound on I 70, when Luke said "There was a zebra on that road back there!".  Right.  Sure there was....

Damn it, I thought (and, apparently said aloud) a zebra would have been a great picture of the day.  The next thing I knew, Luke was turning the car around and we were in search of the zebra on the road.

Well, there was a zebra, but it's hard to see.  I'll help you out:  see the road that curves there on the far left?  Just to the right of the turn in the road is a black spot then a larger dark area.  The first black spot is the zebra.  I'm not even kidding.  I saw it!

Here's another shot.  The zebra and the larger dark spot are nearly the same.

Okay, so this begs the question of what the hell is a zebra doing roaming the plains of Kansas?  Was it walking down the road to check the mail?  Maybe a letter from home was expected?  Do you think the horses on this ranch make fun of the zebra?  Is the zebra allowed to join in the horsey games played when humans aren't looking?  

I remember one time Luke told me there was a dinosaur in his closet.  Guess I should have looked.

July 27, 2012 London and Other Stuff

There is no photo today.  Sorry.  There could have been one but I didn't apply myself like I should have.  Tough shit.

Big news from physical therapy today:  wall slide knee bend of 115 degrees and sliding knee bend of 105.  Oh yeah, I am a rock star.  Angie, physical therapist to the stars, was duly impressed although she still made noises about 120 degrees.  We laughed about the fact that I am probably never going to be released from PT but that's okay.  Angie and Steve have 2 children to put through college and I need to do my part to help them pay the tuition bills.  There was some talk about combining my PT with alcohol.

Because I love London and people I love live in London (or used to), it was imperative that I watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics.  Seeing my favorite city all dressed up was so much fun.

One more sign that I am getting old:  I thought the ceremony was loud.  Don't be a smart ass and suggest that I should have just turned down the volume on the television.    Setting aside the whole too loud thing, though, there were some highlights:  the deaf children singing "God Save the Queen", the Queen parachuting out of the helicopter, Mohammed Ali, Mary Poppins to the nth degree, the symbolism of the Olympic torch.

Things that made me tired:  the parade of nations that went on for freaking EVER.  In 4 years, I suggest that the US team go first.  The end.  I haven't even heard of some of those countries.  I say let's combine all the countries that aren't the U.S. and shorten that damn parade.

I'm glad someone woke the Queen up to declare the Games open.  She clearly was up past her bedtime.  Maybe jumping out of the helicopter took it's toll on the old girl.

Paul McCartney should not give up his day job.  Leading a sing-a-long at the Olympics was not a great idea.       Whose  idea was it, do you suppose?  Wonder if that person still has a job?

I love London.

I love the Olympics.

I love when the "Star Spangled Banner" plays.

I could be full of love over the next 17 days.

July 24, 2012 Why?

Why is it that Americans are so quick to fly flags at half staff in honor of  the innocent people gunned down at  a theatre in Colorado but will not embrace reasonable gun control?

I don't get it.

No one can explain it to me.

It's time to make guns harder to get, not easier.

It's past time to make automatic weapons illegal.  

While we're at it, let's shut the NRA down.  Right now.

What makes sense to me is that our nation take some proactive action against guns instead of flying flags at half staff when some clown with orange hair opens fire in a movie theatre.

July 23, 2012 Craigslist

I was wandering around on Craigslist looking for nothing in particular.  There is some crazy shit out there to buy, trade, hire, etc.

For example, someone in Dodge City was looking for a ride to Denver.  Hmmmm.....who could be wanting to go to Denver?  Anyone I know?    Who would want to spend 15 hours in a car with a complete stranger?  And by "stranger", I mean someone from Dodge City.

I read on:  "I'm a 22 year old male who just graduated from college and is going on a hitchhiking trip and on July 9th, I need a ride from Dodge City to as close as possible to Denver."

What.  The.  Fuck.

It's a hitchhiking trip.  HITCHHIKING.  You know, where you stick your thumb out and hope that someone who is not an ax murderer stops and gives you a ride.  

Hitchhiking, it seems to me is made up of 2 words:  hitch, that's the part with your thumb and hiking, that's the part where you walk to your destination.

This must be the new generation of hitchhikers.  Don't leave your house until you have a ride lined up.  The basic elements are there:  free ride; with a stranger.

A rose by any other name, I suppose.

July 22, 2012 Special Visitors

I was blessed with a special visit today.  My dear friend, Jennifer, a friend from my first years at Kansas State (she was a bright Business student who had dreams of law school) brought little Evie to see her crazy aunt Sarah.  

Yes, I know it's more like Crazy Grandma Sarah, but we are going to go with "Aunt".  So there.

Time and time again during their visit I found myself thinking that I started law school when Luke was 8 months old. 

Evie loved smiling for my camera.   

She loved, loved, LOVED Luke.  It was as if he was her own private jungle gym.  She showed him her book, then she'd crawl to him, giggling all the while.

 Luke and a friend were having breakfast in the dining room and even though all of Evie's toys were in the living room, she kept crawling to Luke.  Every now and then she'd sit back and wave to him and laugh.  Then she'd start to crawl again.

I am ready to be a grandma.

What I mean is that once I no longer need a walker and can walk with 2 real legs and feet, I'll be ready to be a grandma.

Oh, and when Luke is out of school and finds the right woman and gets settled, I'll be ready to be a grandma.

Until then, I will beg Evie to come visit as often as she can.

Hope she brings her momma.

July 18, 2012 What Is This Stuff?

Do you see that the deck under the table is a different color?

Do you see these white dots?

It. Rained. This. Evening.

Oh. Yes. It. Did.

Water poured out of the sky in giant, juicy drops.  It was awesome.

The grass is greener, the trees are perky again, the dust has settled, the world feels a bit cleaner.

And it is now humid as hell.

I may never be dry again.

July 17, 2012 Friends Who Farn

Today I went to work and to a meeting with a local attorney.

It was as if I had spent the day at a farmer's market!

Bags of sweet corn, tomatoes and onions came home with me thanks to my friends who farm.

The attorney grew his batch of tomatoes in one of those upside down hanging doo-dads where the tomato plant grows towards the ground.  While it looks a bit odd, I can say that the tomatoes taste quite good.

Being from rural Kansas, you'd think I'd have some desire to grow my own food.  You'd be wrong.

I don't need to grow my own food, because I have friends who will do it for me.