Month: June 2008

Family, HumorLeave a comment

The Maine Objective was Fun

Tim May

A few weeks ago FD Tiffany asked for pictures of our week long vacation last August to New England. In finding those pictures hidden in a remote folder on my computer, I took a minute for a memory and smile. We have taken a few family vacations in the past but this one had something special attached. Perhaps it was all the laughing that we did; maybe it was because none of us had been to Providence, Boston, Boothbay Harbor, Bar Harbor, and Acadia National Park before…yeah, all those made it special but I think it was the realization that it was most likely the last vacation we would spend as a family, just the four of us (BTW, I don’t think I ever thanked Mark and Tammy for giving us that week with our kids). Continue reading “The Maine Objective was Fun”

Humor, Life1 Comment

36 + 14

Tim May

This morning I woke up knowing that I have achieved the age of 36 for the 14th time. Somebody tell me I’m having fun…but don’t use the “young” word. The “You’re half a century young” or “You’re 50 years young” is crap, not in my vocabulary, and truthful does not help or make me feel any better. Age = old so I’m facing up to it with all the hesitation and denial I can muster.

Yesterday was just another day. All body functions worked fine. This morning…well…I couldn’t pee. I’m standing in front of the porcelain, business in one hand, the other one extended with the palm up and fingers spread, with a mouth-half-open dumbfounded expression of “huh”. It’s like the plumbing knew the day and time like it were a Swiss watch. Just kidding: the morning constitutional went A-OK, but the walk was met with much anticipation. Continue reading “36 + 14”

WeatherLeave a comment

Mr. Weatherman please take a vacation

Tim May

For an amateur enthusiast, the crazy weather this spring and early summer has been nothing short of impressive. Maybe because I’ve thus far escaped the carnage of straight line winds, tornados, large hail, and flooding thunderstorms that I have this sort of fascination. Those that have suffered through the storm I’m sure think I have truly snapped a twig (no pun intended). Regardless, my “weather” folder in my “Favorites” has the largest collection of web sites of any other…and it continues to grow. Continue reading “Mr. Weatherman please take a vacation”

Family2 Comments

Reporting on Golf

Tim May

A blog or two ago I wrote of a pending game of golf that was to be played amongst family members. I am here to say the game is now history. It was played in near-perfect weather (for north-central Kansas): a slight breeze and 90° temperatures. Everyone showed up early for the tee time (thanks to Trevor’s wake-up call to Tara); cold beverages (adult and otherwise) were strategically placed every third hole or so for our convenience and solace. It was a grand day despite a 5+ hour round of golf and nearly 2 hours worth of fundraiser auctions.

We all had our moments around the course. Some of us had longer moments than others (the author for one and for the most part). Missed shots, missed putts, missing golf balls, and cart partners missing their ride (thanks Dad). What made this game special was the May’s made up two of the 30-odd foursomes playing. Dad/Grandpa was so proud when the course Marshall broadcasted the shotgun starting holes as “on the number 1 tee…all the May’s”. That was really kind of cool for all of us, not just Dad. Continue reading “Reporting on Golf”

WeatherLeave a comment

Tornados-a-plenty

Tim May

Our Memorial weekend a few weeks ago was spent in Kansas. A time for reflection on memories about and with family was the intent, but unpredictable Kansas weather provided us reasons for concern.

 

The weekend started with driving to Wichita with my niece Mikel and her newlywed husband Josh. It was five hours of wonderful conversation with young adults, aspiring professionals, and untainted attitudes towards the real world of work…but that might be another story. In Wichita we picked up my wife at the airport (coming in on the last leg of a business trip), and then continued three more of driving with new life to the conversation with Deb now in the car.

The last 3 hours of our drive was met with little regard to weather. The sky was overcast, colorful, and of interesting cloud formations – really nothing that unusual for Kansas. We arrived in our childhood hometown in the early evening. As we typically do, we split up – me going to Dad’s, Deb going to one of her parents. After a brief stop at Deb’s dad’s farm, the other three dropped me off in town at Dad’s, said their hellos and howdy-doodies to him, and they quickly departed for an evening with my mother-in-law.  Continue reading “Tornados-a-plenty”

FamilyLeave a comment

Club Selection

Tim May

Next week Tyler and I venture to the flatlands of Kansas to join other family in a “Gentlemanly Pursuit” (as Tyler writes) game of golf. It is fast becoming a highly anticipated round – one that has already been met with arrival time coordination, sleeping arrangements, practice range practice, and yes…”ungentlemanly” smack. The event is for a good cause: a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, aka Relay for Life (Mom has a great vantage point and will be our Field Marshall that day). Continue reading “Club Selection”

Family, HumorLeave a comment

21-Bizarre Salute

Tim May

A couple months ago marked an anniversary of some family bizarreness. The event is one that has been talked about and laughed at by many, many times. I am delayed in documenting this event through my weblog for various reasons, but the one most apparent is I finally found my notes…and I wanted to be sure I captured the accuracy of the event. Yup, I admit my age and memory has caused me to invest in several hundred 3”x5” note cards that I scatter about in a number of different places (so I don’t forget where I put just one stash).

Here’s my story and I cannot be persuaded otherwise:

In the winter ’07, I made a collegiate visit to my alma mater to do recruiting for my company. The timing of the event just so happened to coincide with one of my brothers visiting another, in a city about an hour from the campus. I decided I would take advantage of this coincidence and spend time with my siblings and their spouses. I folded up my vendor booth at the end of the day and took to the road for a visit.

Typically, our brotherly reunions are laced with friendly and sometimes down right mean barbs and jabs about college sports (they prefer the rival state university over my degree-giving institution of higher learning). I expected the same would be the case this time, but I would get to at least drink my brother’s cold beer while enduring the grief. Little did I know how this reunion would turn out. Continue reading “21-Bizarre Salute”