Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Strange New Things

The church where I am now employed has a tradition for new hires. It's this dog.


On your first day of work this masterpiece appears in your office. He's missing a leg and is chipped and stands about a foot and half tall. I do believe that the gal who is the youth director was quite pleased to pass him along.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Change

Jackson has been playing sports for 9 years or so. All that time we've been the driving force behind his practices. Either as chauffeur, or over seer. Or in John's case as coach. When he first started playing we even had to dress him from head to toe in hockey pads. The equipment bag was bigger than he was.

Last week something changed.

After working out all summer with the high school team, Jackson went to the middle school training camp. He woke up, got ready and walked to practice. Then walked home. Look Mom no parents!~ My only glimpse of the team was this strategic drive by.

This is a season of change here at Myers house. After two years as a stay at home mom, I've accepted a new job. It's a great opportunity at a church in Prairie Village. My hope is that I'll be able to connect young people to their church and to God. Today was my first day.

Lake Living

We've been lounging at the lake. As you may remember we've been camping at the same camp ground at the same camp site for over 20 years now. Mom and Harold have it down.

They've been at the lake for over a week now. We just went and crashed the party for a few days.
We swim, we ride the boat, we eat good food, and we lounge. We love to lounge at the lake.

And we love it when our 13 year old son says things like "my grandpa, my dad and I went fishing." Cause that's exactly what life is about. Grandma and Mom stayed at the campsite and ate pie with vanilla ice cream. Cause that's also what life is about.


And sometimes we get a great picture that will hold on to memories for a long time. They were watching the dog in the next boat finally jump into the lake. And they were happy and they were together. Which is exactly what family is about.



After much debate we decided to bring both dogs. And they loved it. Colby's had a hard year. If she was a cat she'd be down a few more lives after a tough but successful battle with hemolytic anemia. But she marched down to the boat and promptly found a comfortable nook to bask in the sun.

Cooper had some fun too. But not after the human's dug in the boat cushions to find Erin's little life jacket. A fellow's gotta have some pride.

Anyone who has ever owned a golden knows they can smile. And man did we see Cooper's smile. He delighted in sticking his head through the bars and taking in all the wind that his ears could carry.
Life is good.







Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Nostalgia

9 years ago we signed our baby up for baseball. We were matched with other 5 year olds who would be in Jackson's kindergarten class. Jackson couldn't really pronounce the team name "Lee's Summit Transmission." The word transmission got all mashed up in his mouth and came out with too many "s's" The boys all ran after the ball no matter where it was hit. Coaches had to be quick to break up the pile ups. Baserunning was rarely in a linear manner.

Many of those same boys still play on the team. And all the boys can pronounce the sponsor. They can not only run the bases correctly but can steal bases, slide, chase run downs and even turn double plays.

Cue the music now. It's end of season time. Memories........

Monday, July 20, 2009

Season Ends

It was a dark and rainy night, and the boys played their hearts out. 4 extra innings. Not a finger nail left in the crew. But the Mustang's season came to a close tonight in a stunning defeat to John's Barber Shop. Our crowd of die heart fans couldn't believe we cold we were. This is July in Missouri. The Royals were rained out by rain and lightening... but notice that little league a few miles away played on.

It's always sad to watch the boys after this type of lose. Their whole world crumbles. Then there was the poignant actions of the coaches as they thanked each player for working so hard all season. One by one hugs and hand shakes. And then the promise of another season. There's something about leaving the ball park for the final time of the year.



More Tournament Play

The team lost a tough one Sunday afternoon. But the team looked good. Our defense is sharp, and our bats are hot. Not to mention that our pants were crispyly bleached (just kidding). The game before us went into extra innings. An underdog lower seed nearly pulled an upset of the undefeated top seed. Our team cheered them on.

John was enjoying ball on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. We've got a fun group of boys and it's been a fun year to coach.

Speaking of coaches though. The head coach for our opponents should be ashamed of himself. As the third base coach he yelled during infield pop up's to try and throw off our players. 13 and 14 year old boys. Trying to make them think that another player had the catch. I suggested that his actions be brought to the attention of the league.... but then I found out that he is the league president. So this very poor sportsmanship must be acceptable.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Ellie

In August of 1969 John's aunt, Ellie, was murdered. Her body nor her killer have ever been found. John's Dad was one of the detectives who worked the case and it haunted him that he could never close the case.

Ellie Myers C. was a devoted mother of two young daughters who was preparing to leave her abusive husband a prominent local attorney. The details of her disappearance were described by police as very suspicious and unusual. Several key players in the disappearance did not cooperate with the police investigation including her husband. (according to the second article on the disappearance)

It's been 40 years. Nearly to the day. We're hoping that a cold case squad will re-examine the case and will bring justice to Ellie's killer. It's possible that new technology including DNA and things like heat seeking equipment that can penetrate concrete may shed new light on the case.

My new hobby is to persistently make phone calls and emails to stir some new interest in the case. This afternoon I went to our local library and within 5 minutes was able to locate newspaper accounts of her disappearance. John and I had never seen a picture of Ellie, who has always been described by family members as very beautiful. Her older sister was a runway and catalog model.

Summer Life

Summer life is sweet here at Myers house. While John was sauteing steaks I picked tonight's veggies - 1 big tomato and lettuce.

This is where I ate dinner. And this is where I read the paper every morning. It's my favorite place in the whole house.


Tournament Life

Oh the sweet days of summer. It's been unseasonably cool and we've been able to turn off the ac and open the windows. Everyone can use a little fresh air. We're in the throws of tournament time. That weird week of the year when your life is directed with an asterisk. The two tiered trajectory of win or lose. As in.... if we lose we may have a game then. Well I'm not sure we may have a game. We entered the winner's bracket with this afternoon's win. Before the game John was mentally breaking down the game. We have 4 boys on vacation this week. So Jackson ended up playing second base. Coach Bill commented that "we must have the biggest second basemen in the history of the league." It's not often that a lineman plays up the middle. But Jack held his own. Caught the attempts to throw out stealing runners. Played the pick up man for throws from the outfield.

Deb and the girls were on hand to witness the fun and bask in the delightful day.
I've become the official chauffeur of Myers house. I dutifully drive a van load of football boys home every morning after a two hour workout. Then later in the day I drive Jack and Nick to the pool, returning in a few hours to pick up their pruny, sun burned bodies. Well actually they've gotten plum bronze. But ya get the picture. This is my summer.





Saturday, July 11, 2009

Fan Fest

John and Jackson headed to St. Louis yesterday to check out the All-Star Fan Fest. It was big. Baseball fans from throughout the country came to celebrate their sport. Check out Jack's attire. Royals and Red Sox.

Earlier this month he got to see the rings up close and personnel. This time it was a World Series trophy.

Mascots are strange. Jackson's always kinda had a thing about them. We went to Disney World and he was the only kid in the park who wouldn't get his pic with all the mascots. But he was delighted to take my pic with them. That way he could get up close, but not be embarrassed. So we have several rolls of pictures with me and Winnie the pooh, me and Cinderella, me and Daisy. And he got so excited when we saw Mickey that he cut off my head. Fast forward say 9 years. And he still wouldn't get his picture taken with any mascots. John did his best to sneak one with the Stomper. Who evidently is not a mouse but an elephant who cheers for the A's.

Today we had our own little fan fest. Jackson's team played last this afternoon. Much to the joy of their adoring fans. Jack pitched. Struck out 5 in a row. Which was kinda fun. But the team fell just short of a win.


But the Myers fans were out in force. Deb and the girls. Plus the girls cousins. Mom and Harold. Me. The girls told their cousins that the games were "super fun. There's Popsicles and candy there and you can play in the sand."

There's an entire underworld at the ball park. Siblings. Some of the best games ever played at the park are the round up games of younger siblings on vacant fields. Erin and Lilly found that the bench made a cool terrain to play with their McDonald's dinosaurs aptly named Renie and Jackson. Erin had quite a day today. This morning she shoved the barbie's salt and pepper shakers up her little nose. The pepper blew out fairly easily. But the salt took some coaxing. Deb was in that cozy Saturday morning mode when Erin ran to her sobbing that there was Barbie toys in her nose.







Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Moo

We spent the morning touring the Shatto Dairy. It's a working dairy farm that processes their own milk. Was named a Small Business of the Year. And went to the White House for a ceremony.

The tour required the wearing of hats. This was funny. Oh yea it was funny. The boys are wondering what in the world they've got themselves into.

One of us needed a much bigger hat.

After we saw the big processing vats and the machine that washes the glass bottles, we got to sample some milk. Fancy milk. Orange milk, root beer milk, banana milk and the universally agreed upon favorite flavor..... chocolate.

We got to see cows being milked. Lauren thanked Miss Pat for providing her calcium for these past 7 years. We also got to hand milk a cow. But when poor Lauren bent down to squeeze that udder the cow's tail whipped around and knocked her hat off. And it being a paper hat it made a crisp smack sound that 'bout made us all jump out of our skins.

We got to see adorable baby calves. Those baby calves just loved Jackson. He'd try to walk away and they'd grab his clothes, his hand anything for just a little more Jackson.
This was quite amusing. With a bit of detective work we remembered that Jack had went to football camp before we left. Cows must love that sweaty, salty flavor. Yum.

Then we headed to Watkins Mill State Park for an afternoon sauntering near the sea. Ok. It was a lake. But a nice lake with a nice grassy, shady beach.
These boys are bronze. They've spent 14 summer afternoons basking by the pool.

The girls enjoyed pretending they ran a fancy spa that provided mud baths. Check out the creative contraption that kept Lauren's broken arm out of the water.











Monday, July 6, 2009

Cracker Jack

The entire clan headed to the ball park to watch Jackson pitch on Sunday. I never realized how short Mom and Harold looked.

Erin told us all that her bones were made of "um plastic." We think she might have meant steel.
Deb is Jack's biggest fan.




Saturday, July 4, 2009

Celebrating

Our neighborhood got an early start to the celebration. We did the 4th on the 3rd. And we'll do it again tonight. Jet lives across the street. He's a rookie at the sparklers. As is his younger brother Oliver.
This morning the Myers clan ventured back to their roots. The annual fourth of July parade in my mom's home association. I promise not to wax on about how times they are a changin'. But there were 5 kids in the parade. 4 of those in strollers with narry a piece of crete paper to be found. When we were kids...... well this was a big big deal. Elevated the fourth into major holiday category. We spent an entire night decorating bikes. Everyone in the neighborhood did. There would be about 100 kids parading down the street. Even when Jack rode in the parade there was a good crew of 50.

After the parade the crowd gathers in the neighborhood park for goodies and games. Lauren was bummed. Ya can't jump in the bounce house when you have a broken arm.

But you can eat watermellon.




Friday, July 3, 2009

Barbie World

Jackson has gone into business. The business of lawn maintenance. Once a week Jackson mows Debbie's lawn. It's a start.

While he's busy mowing I get to hang out with my girls. Check out the new pink cast.

The girls have been playing Barbie's. Every day. So they invited me to play along. 'cept they gave me the Barbie that got a haircut from Erin. The ugly Barbie. We used to have one when we were little girls. Our's was named Linda. She babysat when our real Barbie's went out on the town. So what do you do when you are handed the ugly Barbie. You make the best of it baby!
Meet T.J. Tomorrow- a loud talking southern Barbie with well white trash tendencies. She hoped in that pink convertible and hollered to her friends that she was off to Aldi's to buy deodorant and then she'd run to Taco Bell for some chimmy changa's.

My nieces were dumbfounded. Mouths gaped open. Finally Lauren spoke up. "Um our Barbie's just get like ready for prom's and dates and stuff." And then it was fun nnnney.

But what was really funny was Erin's explanation for her brand spankin new toothbrush. "The cat pooped in the sink and I tried to clean it up and um I used my old toothbrush. So Mommie bought me another one."
Then we all watched Clean House. Cause man my house isn't even that dirty.



Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Lauren was jumping on a neighbor's trampoline last night. Fell off and broke her arm. I scooped up Erin while they went to the hospital. Erin suggested that we eat breakfast. So we did. Bacon and orange juice. (a late night snack of BLT's or in her words bacon samwitches) Then we settled in to watch cartoons. She was mesmerized by Tom and Jerry. After a few minutes she broke her gaze long enough to mention "that mouse is good."

Lauren had to stay at the hospital for surgery to put two pins in her broken elbow bone. So we made plans for a big play day. We went to the park and chased our shadows.


Then we picked up the boys for a picnic at the lake. We ate fried chicken and macaroni. Then walked down to a dock tucked away in a cove.

We sat on the dock and soaked in the summer sun. Nick saw a dear on the shore doing the same thing. (photo by Nick and credited by his request!)

Then we went to the marina to feed the fish. And the ducks too. Although there are enormous signs saying "Don't feed the ducks." Well how in the heck are you supposed to avoid that. So we fed the fish but the ducks may have gotten some of the cat food we threw the fish.

Then it was off to feed the Buffalo. We love the buffalo. Although the poor things eye's were crusted with flys and were mangy from shedding their summer coats. Erin liked the 5 new babies.
There evidently was one carrot that had bad structure and was "bendy."

But wait there's more. We spent the evening at the ball fields. It's a perfect night for baseball, and the Mustang's were victorious. A good time was had by all.