Night Out at Hamburger Mary's

Getting together with old friends is always fun.

Especially when that night out includes bingo at Hamburger Mary's. Seems like every time I go to Hamburger Mary's, Melinda Ryder is always the star. I didn't win, but the food, fun and good friend from high school, Val Matula, was worth the late night.

Shrimp Boil

Michele came to visit and instead of just sitting around and talking, we decided to visit the Farmer's Market. I was surprised there were so many things besides produce. Besides buying fresh corn, potatoes and bread I also bought a dress. Who would have thought you could buy a dress at the Farmer's Market.

Michele left before I could make a fabulous shrimp boil. I went a little overboard for one person, but the results were fantastic. Shrimp boil for 1 for a month!

Lincoln's Busted Chin

What bigger nightmare to go through than having to take your child to the emergency room to have stitches.

It didn't surprise me when Melissa called saying she was taking Lincoln to get stitches because he split his chin open. It happened to Teresa a couple of times when she was small and Michael had stitches over his eye and in the back of his head. We seem to be a wild bunch.

But a few stitches won't keep this boy down. Michele visited later in the day and he was back to his rambunctious ways. Michele was a little more comfortable playing with Violet. Although the game of dominoes soon turned into something a little less calm.

Retirement Party

Even though it's been 6 years since I retired, I still have some friends who continue to hang on and sweat the 9 to 5 job.

But finally one of the longest employed retired. I started working with this group of people when I started with KCP&L back in 1997. Some have already retired and some were new to the group but this is the biggest bunch we could find. We had lunch to celebrate Alan's retirement after 45 years and reminisce about old times.

Father's Day

Father's Day has now become another one of those holidays that sort of just passes by.

But then I remembered I have a member of my family who's a father. And what a great father he is.

Even though Jamie had to work on Father's Day, he took time to play on the playground outside the fire station with Violet and Lincoln. Happy Father's Day, Jamie. I couldn't have asked for a better role model for my grandkids.

Arrowhead 5K Walk/Run

I can finally say I've walked in a 5K race. Three of my friends from high school and I foolishly agreed to sign up for this walk. The Arrowhead 5K is a night race that took us through the parking lots around Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadium, through the Arrowhead concourse and Hall of Honor and finished under the lights on the field at Arrowhead.

For those that might not know, 5K is a little over 3 miles. The first mile went rather well. During the second mile, I was trying to get my friends to cut through one of the parking lots. I was out voted. The last mile had us climbing the ramp up through Arrowhead Stadium. I was pretty excited when I passed a lady with a cane. That's not funny, but I had to restrain myself from stealing her cane before I fell over. Thank goodness it was a cloudy evening or the extreme heat would have killed me way before the end of the race.

I finally reached the finish line only to find out they had run out of water. Are you kidding me? Then they hung this medal around my neck that must have weighed another 5 pounds. Top it off with only one exit from the field, up a flight of stairs. I cut to the front of the line with hecklers continually telling me there was a line. Fighting exhaustion and probably dehydration I would have fought with anyone standing in my way up those stairs.

Would I do it again? Probably. It was actually fun and a good time with friends. I didn't come in first or finish last. I was actually in the middle of the pack and finished in less than an hour. Yay!!!!!!!!

Pool Day with Violet

I haven't seen Violet and Lincoln for almost a month, so I decided to take Violet to the pool (Lincoln was a little sick so he couldn't go).

I had this ring float that Violet was dying to try. She tried and tried to sit in the ring but just couldn't do it - it kept sinking. I finally figured out you had to blow up the outside ring. Duh! Once I got all the water out of it and huffed and puffed to blow it up, Violet would push it from the side of the pool and jump in. I was going to get in the water with her, but the water was freezing and the wind was blowing. I only like it when it's hot. Violet was so excited to have a day just with me. That always makes me feel good. Now I feel guilty I don't spend more time with her.