I found a picture of my sister

Here's a picture of Kerry, and Stumpus the three legged dog from Father's Day. Her husband is the one slaving over the hot grill.

Sister's Birthday

My younger sister turned 40 today. Unforunately, she took most of the pictures, so I don't have any of her to post. We had a combination 4th of July/Birthday/Welcome Home party. The welcome home party was for my neice, who just returned from 21 days in Ireland, Wales, and England. I guess that's collectively Great Britain. She was still jet-lagged, and I actually got a picture of her in a relaxed state (not posing/hamming it up).

My brother in law is not jet-lagged. However, his portrait is the epitome of weekend relaxation. Cold beer in hand, scruffy weekend beard, sitting back in the lawn chair, under a large maple tree, listening to the Indians/Kansas City baseball game and chatting with my dad.


You tell me if this guy doesn't have "redneck farmer" written all over him. He's my dad, and I love him dearly. Damn fine looking man too. I wonder if I'll look that good in 30 years. I'll probably be much heavier. You know, from beer drinking, for motorcycle passenger safety.


My sister is the master of capturing embarrasing moments on camera.... Katie just kept doing her business. Kerry finally realized what picture she took, and got a lot of ribbing for it. Of course, I had to post it, so the ribbing can go on. Nice pic, Kerry! Next time can you zoom in on the poop? I'm sure we'd all like to know if Katie has solid, healthy poop, or runny poop! (For those with inquiring minds, it was semi-solid)


My friend Steve's wife and two daughters joined us for volleyball. We didn't play much because it was so hot, but we got a bit of 2 on 2 V-ball, and some frisbee. Notice how the eye drifts to the right to my sister's shirt.... I probably could have cropped that out, but naaaa.


Steve's oldest daughter was on the injured reserve list, having taken a bee sting to the middle toe. She watched Katie for me, proving to her mother that they could actually get another puppy, or a kitten.... (You're welcome, dudette!)


But his youngest daughter was indefatigable! I tell you, I thought I was in decent shape, but that about kicked my ass. No, it didn't "about" kick my ass. It totally kicked my ass. I need to work out some! I'm still panting!


It wouldn't be a very good blog of mine if I didn't post a picture of myself. This is me with my nephew. Actually, I'm such an egomaniac, I had to post one of me, and this is the least embarrasing one Kerry took. Remember Kerry, the taker of the dog-pooping picture...well, you can imagine what pictures she took of me.

7/7/07

I don't feel especially lucky today. It is a very nice day, I'm doing yard work. Maybe I'll get to finally meet Scarlett Johansson today. That would be lucky!

Fourth of July 2007

We had another neighborhood cookout today. I made sloppy joes and blueberry cobbler. The sloppy joes were perfect for me, but a bit too spicy for some of the other folks. So I'm eating another one right now. I have a penchant for Red Devil sauce.


Two new people joined us today, Beth and Denny. They live around the corner, but we chat often when I take Katie for her walks. We all missed Ellen, though. It looks like Patty must have tried some of my sloppy joe sauce!

David really enjoyed seeing Katie again. They played hide and seek, with David doing most of the seeking.

A few of us took the afternoon off, sitting and chatting. I even tried to sneak a nap in.

But once the football started getting tossed around, it was too dangerous to nap.

Tina caught one!


After a short bike ride that ended in disaster (a skinned knee), David powered down in his mom's lap, Beth and Denny headed home, and Karen, Tina, and I went to see Transformers.

A weekend wedding celebration

My best friend held a wedding reception for his oldest daughter last Saturday. The new bride is on the right, and her sister on the left. They MUST take after their mother, because my friend just ain't that good lookin'.

There was some kite flying, some cornhole playing, and horseshoe tossing, not to mention nearly non-stop chatting with old friends and new acquaintences.















We ate roasted pig (YUMMY), roast beef, delicious garden and pasta salads, and an incredible fruit salad and loads of pastries that the bride's mother made, as well as wedding cake. Ice cold beer washed the food down.


You KNOW what's gonna happen next....



Rick made every man at the party jealous with his new fire ring. Yup, that's all stainless steel. Welded. With 8" legs and 3/8" round bar stock welded into the bottom. Damn. I want one too!


We stayed up late talking about life and love, while joking and laughing, and a little bit of crying. The youngest daughter has some life decisions to make, and I was truly amazed by my friend. I saw a side of him I never thought I'd see. He told her that she would always have someone there for her, that she was the most important half of his life, shared with his other daughter, and that he loved her. Jeez, I almost started bawling!