Weather was windy. Weather was rather chilly. Weather was climatically miserable. Family was there. Family was ready to party. Family was generally pleasurable.
OK…it was Mick’s 1st birthday last week Thursday, but we celebrated collectively on Sunday. Mick chose a day of 55° temperatures and a north wind gusting to 45 mph to gather everyone to watch him. Continue reading “The Big ONE”
They left Monday from NYC through Hong Kong. I think today is their yesterday. I’m always a wee bit nervous when FD travels to the other side of the globe…but I get over it quickly…just as soon as she checks in with dear ol’ Pops. I’m so proud of her and that adventurous spirit.
Have a good time T-Babe!!! Continue reading “Manila Phillippines welcomes the FD and Mark”
Every so often, one should clean out a closet or pantry just for grins. Deb did just that (for grins) to our pantry today but her intent was more for getting rid of expired dry foods and giving a sense of organization to the shelves. She accomplished her goal and came across a “family keeper” crumbled way in the back on the top shelf. Continue reading “Re-visit the Past, Favorites, Ideals, and Wishes”
The life of this blog has provided an outlet for many different emotions over the few short months of its existence. Through my stories the blog has tried to make you smile, laugh, love, remember, cry, enjoy, celebrate, relax, reflect, anticipate, honor, and most of all think. This evening, I find myself working through all those emotions. The weekend had a roller coaster of ups and downs worth of emotion. An accident 500 miles away and a third birthday only 15 minutes from home made for an trying time for all of us when all said and done; wrap the weekend and put it on the shelf.
My great niece Madison (Deb’s niece’s daughter) celebrated her third birthday with mostly family this afternoon. “Madi” is a charm of a kid that can melt even the hardest of hearts. Fortunately, a Madi-party has attendees that she’s already mushed their heart. So we all just sit, watch, and hope we get a long hard hug from her when it’s our turn (a few of us try to capture just that right picture of her). Three years old – oh my – and she’s already able to tame a heart, heal if it’s broken, and instill hope in the hearts of all who know her. Many of us struggle our entire life just trying to accomplish one of those attributes.
Most of you know of the bond I have with my Scottie, Mackie, and of her bond with our family…that’s entirely on her terms. It’s a dysfunctional quality that is enjoyed every day (as she lays at my feet, licking her own, with total disregard for me telling her to stop). She brings a smile to my face and she knows all the buttons to push and strings to pull in maintaining an unrelenting grip on our household.
Friends and family have this breed: Gal Pal Jai Jai, although I’ve yet to meet them, has three personality-unique Scotties (her parents until just recently had 2 – now 1); OFNi Sarah has adorable Wallace (rescued Scottie mix) and Kingston (rescued Schnauzer that thinks he’s a Scottie); OFSIL Sue B has the fun and funny Brodie; Friend Dawn has 2 black Scottie that love most to pose for photographs. I have yet to meet a Scottie that didn’t make me smile. In fact, at the Westminster Dog Show this year one did just that: a Scottish Terrier named Sadie competed for Best in Show.
Continue reading “A life lesson: always pee first before going on stage”
On February 28th America lost an iconic, legendary radio man. No one, not his son, not Gil Gross nor any other sit-in voice (Dallasite Ron Chapman) will replace the incomparable Paul Harvey. Many young people have missed out on his folksy, comforting, fatherly, friendly, familiar voice delivering the News! and “the rest of the stories”. It is sad to think the youth of today will know not what they’ve missed.
I for one took great comfort listening to Paul on the radio. My commute into Dallas each day was not complete without Paul telling me the day’s stories at 7:30 a.m. on The Big WBAP 820. While on my way to work, I remember a fateful day in the mid-80’s when Paul reported a Hollywood-style kidnap and murder event in western Kansas over the radio. I took interest because of the story’s geographic closeness to home. It was an incident involving ex-cons, sheriff and state police, and one innocent man. That man – the victim of a violent shoot out – coincidentally was my wife’s uncle. Paul Harvey hit a little closer to home that day with his News! than he usually did. It was his comforting grace – a grace for the family that would be expected from a compassionate preacher at an emotional funeral – that eased the mournful shock and started the healing.
Yesterday marked a milestone in the life of FD. She turned the big 2-9…an age that will now be with her for a couple years at least ( ;) ). 
T is a special person in so many ways. In the family lineage, she is the first born to her Mom and Dad; she is the first grandchild born to her paternal grandparents and the fourth to maternal grandparents; she is the first “girl” on the May side – Grandma was elated if I remember right; she is the first born in our family so she could (or try at least) tell second-born FS what to do and when.
We spent nearly two hours on the phone with her this morning (she appreciated her parent’s duet version of “Happy Birthday” on her voice mail yesterday when she was out and about with friends in the big city…she called it “angelic”…she’s so kind, in a tactful, diplomatic, and funny sort of way). In talking with her, memories of her growing up came to mind. Those only cause a smile, a nose-tingle and color change, a lot of blinking to happen – they are happy, loving tears only a father could have in the privacy of his home office while writing a blog post about a favorite daughter nicknamed so often, but most fittingly, still “Sunshine” and “Sweets”.
Slap on some rouge and plaster the lips, this old man has given in to joining the Facebook cosmetic line. Much to the dismay of perhaps family and peers, after reading Mark Davis’ article in Sunday’s Dallas Morning News (don’t anyone tell OFB Tony that I read and listen to conservative talk show host Mark quite often) and his recent membership to the legion of some 150 million population of Facebook, I did it anyway. The CEO of Facebook – one 24-year-old founder Mark Zuckerberg – says “If Facebook were a country, it would be the eighth-most-populated in the world, just ahead of Japan, Russia, and Nigeria”. I’m now the 150,000,001 member – yeah right, and I would like to announce my candidacy for President of this new found country. I guess it’s OK to join – it’s free and they welcome all ages (I’m good with both of those qualifications).
It’s a new socializing and networking opportunity for me; and I certainly only intend its use as yet another venue to “express” myself and maybe just find a few long lost friends. Oh yeah, and I think nearly every nephew and niece I have (on both sides of the family) has a Facebook account. IF they accept me as a “friend” (because they don’t have a “Crazy Uncle” option), perhaps I can annoy them on Facebook much like I do some of my regular, as well as infrequent or new blog readers. But not to worry all the pretty little blog heads that do read this stuff…at this webpage, by no means am I giving up WordPress, Flickr, SnapFish or any of my other Internet “socializing and networking opportunities” already in place.
Ahhh, Christmas this year was spent a bit differently. Ohhhh we had our kids with us for sure, but it was out of the “home” for the second year in a row. Last year we traveled to San Antonio – that was cool. This year we were again close to San Antonio…about 45 minutes northwest in Wimberley.
Even though it went from 36° to nearly 80°…and then back to 40°, we had a 
wonderful time in the Hill Country over Christmas. We had days where we woke up to the furnace running and ate dinner with the AC blowing. Something about not having cold temps and snow on the ground at Christmas just isn’t right.
FD and Mark, FS and Tammy, and Frank and Lupe joined us for a relaxing, special time together. The time went by so fast and very little college football bowls were watched – which made it even more neat for everyone. Continue reading “Hill Country Christmas”
Mikel and Josh were dancing the night away having celebrated a wedding ceremony on a cold night in Houston. It was a fun night for all. And I think these guys kind of like each other a whole lot. :) Happy Anniversay you guys…call me when the 1-year pictures are wanted. Crazy Uncle Tim Continue reading One year ago today…
It was kind of like finding $20 in a pair of pants…way cool. I grabbed an idle CF card for my Canon for a few quick pictures the other night. When I started to download them later that evening I found a handful of other pictures patiently waiting for me to share – pictures taken over the Father’s Day weekend. Check out Flickr for new pictures of OFGNi Madison. Tripod the Calf (RIP) wanting feed gets the blog picture (along with FD in the unusual pose – that birds and bees talk may be long over due) tm Continue reading Photo Surprise
This weekend was met with considerable road time and quality family time. We are a bit worn out to say the least but worth the 1600 miles, snow, flat tire, big helping of traditional turkey-day stuff(ing), road construction delays, and eating well at a couple nice restaurants in Austin.
Wednesday had me driving to Wichita to pickup Deb at the airport – she was on a return leg of a business trip from Minneapolis by way of Chicago O’Hare. 10 minutes from a 10 a.m. arrival, I brush up against a curb at the Kansas Turnpike Toll Booth and pop the stem on the front driver’s side tire. The poor lady attendant in the toll booth – she tought she had been shot by the look on her face when that stem broke off with a loud “pop”. It turned out to be an hour or so delay getting the tire changed and repaired. I finally got to the airport to pick up Deb a wee bit late (thank heavens for cell phones). Continue reading “Giving Thanks Trip”
It all started with an airport arrival last Thursday. FD flew into town for a long weekend of class reunion, a high school football game, share a few cocktails with some old friends, therapy with/for her folks, to see “Beeba” and Tam, drink wine, eat stuff, hug on her Mom, laugh with her Dad, yada yada yada. FD, as I once wrote in Favorites, has many names. This weekend she was my “Baby Girl”. It’s always good to have her home as she brings energy and enthusiasm to the house.
We were greeted Saturday morning (well I wasn’t – I had a meeting in Dallas that allowed everyone else to burn daylight by sleeping in) with the FS and STBFDIL. This weekend he has my “Baby Boy” (not really Tyler – don’t mean to get too sappy here – you were and still are my “FS”). They drove up from Austin Friday night and partied with friends…only to land on our overnight accommodations (beds) about 4 a.m. And guess who they brought home with them…the FD. Nothing like partying with siblings to bring a family together. My guess is they drove home together to keep each other awake (I know they wouldn’t drink and drive).
The kids have gotten into a let’s-do-something-different habit the last couple times they’ve come home. This trip – Saturday afternoon – the favorites bought us all a wine
tasting class on the Square in Denton. We had fun. STBFDIL and I got a bit silly with the seven or so fine Argentina wines tasted within an hour. Brittany (I think) was our host. She obviously knows her wines and thus explains her ownership of Wine2 (actually it’s “wine squared” but I couldn’t make the “2” itty bitty and raised up off the line). duh.
OK there’s something about 12 people, 1 instructor, and 1 employee sitting in plastic bistro-style patio furniture (don’t get me wrong, it’s a neat place) trying to swirl wine and stick one’s nose into the business end of the glass and then guess what the liquid smells like, that’s just fun(ny). To me, I think all wine smells like wine and it needs to be drank…rather quickly…so I can have another thank you very much. Now STBFDIL and I got to smelling our wine, listening to the other class attendees express and showcase their knowledge of wine, and guessing our own smells within the wine. We could not smell the “good dirt – not bad dirt”, nor could we detect the slight overtones Continue reading “Weekend Babies”
Check out Eli’s progress. Don’t anyone tell him he had surgery 15 days ago that had his chest and heart wide open. How ’bout those surgery wounds quickly going away. Thanks Grandma Sue for sending the pictures…not sure who to thank for photography – perhaps everyone. I think I’m gonna starting calling Eli “TK” for “tough kid”.
NOTE: Eli’s condition is being updated through the “comments” portion of this blog posting. Click “read more” and then scroll to the bottom of the page, OR click the”# comments” at the bottom of the post – it will jump you straight to the comments. Feel free to leave your comments. FYI new commenters to this blog will be screened initially (by me) then after that first time, subsequent comments will be instantly posted.
Eli Ross May was the trooper of the day yesterday.
At Denver’s Children Hospital, Eli’s Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD) and a cleft of his Mitral Valve was repaired after about 5 hours of surgery on Friday. Everything went according to plan.
I’m sure Eli is really sore and they obviously have kept him sedated. All is well with everyone (except for a bit of exhaustion on the part of family) according to the two updates from OFB TR.
What great news. Thanks everyone for thoughts and prayers – keep them coming over the next several weeks.
Pictures from OFNi Tara Continue reading “Eli, our little trooper”
Eli’s condition is called Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD). In layman’s terms, Eli does not have a tissue wall in the upper heart chambers that normally would separate his oxygenated blood from de-oxygenated blood. The heart and lungs are unduly and severely stressed, and several physical childhood (infant) developmental progressions are effected. Eli’s condition, best I can ascertain at this time (thanks to literature sent by his Grandma Sue), is textbook. He has experienced over the past several months little to no weight gain, fatigue, bluish complexion, appetite and nourishment concerns, and pulmonary illnesses. Other health complications have developed as a result of his AVSD condition. Continue reading “Eli, our little man”
This year’s Labor Day weekend was spent with our parents in Kansas. It’s always grand to visit our parents – we’re trying to do that as often as we can. We came away with yet another new found perspective however. Hurricanes occupy as much TV time in land-locked Kansas as it does in the coastal states. I’m glad CFB has started. Listening to Big 12 North friendly media rant and rave about a successful Week 1 for my Wildcats (and yes I had to tolerate the Jayhawks as well) is quite refreshing, perhaps even a bit rejunivenating.
Deb’s dad had an orchard full of apples this weekend. So we grabbed buckets and sacks and trekked up the hill to do some old fashion picking. Others did the picking, I photographed (Hey Emily, you should have been with me on that Photowalk). Deb’s mom, nephew Jacob, my dad, and Gus the Dog came out and joined in on the fun. When it was all said and done, we had a bushel of apples, some already sampled by birds…others home to constant diners that dwell and relish the sweet taste and fruit firmness (aka worms). Within minutes the five of them had a load and we then kind of looked at each other and said “now what”. “Now what”, at least in part, resulted in apple pealing/coring the old fashion way (with a pairing knife) and had Deb making my dad two pies that evening. Now I like pies and apple is usually down my favorites list quite a ways, however Deb’s pies were particularly good and quite tasty. So much so, Dad and I enjoyed a breakfast of champions by having a slice of homemade apple pie and a scope of vanilla bean ice cream for breakfast the next morning. Continue reading “Labor Day, Apple Pie, and Kansas in both Windshields”
OK gang, we missed all of you on Saturday. Remember? It was the National Photowalk Do-da Day. Not everyone forgot. OFNi Emily brought her kiddos to City Hall Park on Saturday morning. We talked, we walked, we took pictures. Had a grand time (at least I did). Courtney, Drake(ster), and Madison were the primary subjects of our focus, F-stops, and posings, although Larry the Lizard took center stage at one point. We used Emily’s camera most, learning it can be used for more than just snap shots. I hope she sends me pictures so I can post them here. Let’s … Continue reading We Photowalked Saturday
Recent posting had me pouting about everyone else’s vacations. Well this past weekend, I got an urban vacation – not Dubai, Maccuhu Pichu, Steamboat Springs, NYC, nor Alaska. FS and FSTBDIL came to Dallas (no further) and we met them at a hotel. FW (I will probably get in trouble for that…or at least questioned) Deb found a deal on two rooms at the Intercontinental Hotel through Hot Wire. Side note, that hotel is appropriately named as it truly was a vast, interesting blend of cultures and nationalities walking through the lobby. They even had a Larry-guy singing Frank Sinatra songs in the lizard lounge, and I would venture a guess Ol’ Blue Eyes is not on the top seller list in New Delhi. Continue reading “What I Did on my Summer Vacation”
My 7-year old great nephew-in-law Drake spent Sunday afternoon shopping for school clothes with his Aunt Debi – I tagged along for a couple hours. Drake is a good kid and quite the hoot. He has a start on a pretty clear perspective of life For example, he:
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