Since Friday it's been raining. All day Friday. All day Saturday. So far, all morning Sunday. Per the Weather Service, this will continue Sunday afternoon (60% chance of rain), Sunday evening (69% chance of rain), Sunday night (51% chance of rain), Monday morning (50% chance of rain), Monday afternoon (55% chance of rain) and Monday evening (34% chance of rain but changing to drizzles).
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: "sprinkles."
I'd planned to golf on Friday: rained out.
I'd planned on a drive with a group of Miata enthusiasts: rained down (we went but it was too wet to do any spirited driving).
I'd planned to golf on Sunday after church: rained out.
I'd planned to golf on Monday. Then Tuesday. Then Thursday.
Anyone got Noah's number? Wonder what the trade-in value of a Miata is on a new Ark.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Goodbye Faithful Servant ... Hello New Addition
Well, the great car hunt is over. Today Barb traded in her Volvo (BTW, I mistakenly reported its age -- it was actually a 1994 model) and bought a new Honda Accord EX-L in Carbon Bronze Pearl.
Here's a picture of the new car in its color rendering straight from Honda's site:
And click on this link for more details about the car (again it's the EX-L so you need to page down a bit to see the additional equipment the "L" variation has).
It has some really nice bells and whistles, including 6 CD changer, XM Satellite Radio, heated seats, automatic temperature control including dual driver/passenger zones, etc. I think one outstanding improvement that Barb (and Alec) appreciate is there are real cup holders in the car.
I'm impressed with it ... especially for the money since she was able to buy it for only $200 over invoice through the Credit Union's connections. It rides very nice and the engine/transmission combination make it very quick and responsive. I've heard others criticize Honda for being too bland but I didn't think it felt bland as much as capable and solid.
As much as Barb pokes fun at me for my infatuation with cars, I should note that she told me she had tears in her eyes as the dealer's staff drove the Volvo away. I've never fully understood her depth of affection for the Volvo and I was underimpressed with its mechanical durabililty and its various idiosyncracies (I swear it had arthritis in its front steering linkage and it was one of the slowest 5-cylinders around IMO).
So I'm now the Wagonmaster of the garage (see this link for the story on my buying the Mazda). It's nice having a more reliable car to share the burden of trips.
Here's a picture of the new car in its color rendering straight from Honda's site:
And click on this link for more details about the car (again it's the EX-L so you need to page down a bit to see the additional equipment the "L" variation has).
It has some really nice bells and whistles, including 6 CD changer, XM Satellite Radio, heated seats, automatic temperature control including dual driver/passenger zones, etc. I think one outstanding improvement that Barb (and Alec) appreciate is there are real cup holders in the car.
I'm impressed with it ... especially for the money since she was able to buy it for only $200 over invoice through the Credit Union's connections. It rides very nice and the engine/transmission combination make it very quick and responsive. I've heard others criticize Honda for being too bland but I didn't think it felt bland as much as capable and solid.
As much as Barb pokes fun at me for my infatuation with cars, I should note that she told me she had tears in her eyes as the dealer's staff drove the Volvo away. I've never fully understood her depth of affection for the Volvo and I was underimpressed with its mechanical durabililty and its various idiosyncracies (I swear it had arthritis in its front steering linkage and it was one of the slowest 5-cylinders around IMO).
So I'm now the Wagonmaster of the garage (see this link for the story on my buying the Mazda). It's nice having a more reliable car to share the burden of trips.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
The Adventure Continues
well, we had our first foray to a car dealership. Actually, two dealerships.
Started at the Subaru dealership and Barb eyed the Subaru Forester, the Legend and the Outback.
The Forester is too small, too boxy and too truck-like.
The Outback sits about 6 inches higher than the Legend or most cars. Turns out that extra height makes it a bit difficult for her to get out of it and she's worried about stability when in heels.
She liked the Legend but the salesman told her that the car will likely be abandoned next year and she doesn't want to buy an "orphan" model. I told her I wasn't very concerned about that but she is -- so that's the way it is.
The Outback is pretty nice and Subaru has a $2,000 rebate on it so the price is pretty nice as well. They had only one with a 5spd manual (turns out that manual transmissions are rare cars for Subaru -- a striking comparison to when I shopped for my Mazda6 wagon). It was a nice mid-shade of Blue and had a tan leather interior. Subaru has a really unique moonroof -- the roof comes in two sections. You press the button once and the first section tilts up. You press the button again and the first section tilts up a bit further to become a deflector and then the sunroof slides back to a 7/8ths open position that's supposed to reduce air buffeting. You push the button again and it slides back all the way. I kind of liked the design -- Barb felt it was too complicated.
The salesman pulled the car out of the garage (it had just been in for cleaning) and is going over the various features with the car running. Barb gets in and tries the sunroof and I'm in the back waiting for the test drive. She tries getting out again and the look on her face told me that there was no test drive that day for that car. The salesman is a bit confused but gamely goes on to talk about the features. I finally say "want to take it for a drive?" and she says (flatly) "no." Salesman is really confused now. So I gently say, well, we'll get back to you and hustle us off to my waiting car.
While waiting at the stop-n-go light, I ask if Barb is interested in looking at the Honda dealership just down the highway. We were planning on going to a movie in an hour so had a small amount of time to kill. I figured we'd just have her look at the Accord and then come back for a test drive.
She says "sure" so off we go and pop into the Honda showroom. There's customers everywhere and all the salespeople are tied up ... I just want to find if they have any Accords with manual transmissions and leather interior. Barb is looking closely at the Accord on the floor and I can tell it's appealing to her ... especially when she sees 26/34 mpg on the sticker.
We finally match up with a salesman who takes us out to look at a silver 6-cylinder 6-speed manual. She gets in, fires it up and off we go for a test drive. She's smitten but a bit worried about getting tickets with the six-cylinder ... it does move (ahem) quickly under her direction.
So I think she's leaning that direction but wants to try out the four-cylinder 5-speed manual transmission model first.
I think having a wagon has just lost out to having an Accord.
Stay tuned for more.
Started at the Subaru dealership and Barb eyed the Subaru Forester, the Legend and the Outback.
The Forester is too small, too boxy and too truck-like.
The Outback sits about 6 inches higher than the Legend or most cars. Turns out that extra height makes it a bit difficult for her to get out of it and she's worried about stability when in heels.
She liked the Legend but the salesman told her that the car will likely be abandoned next year and she doesn't want to buy an "orphan" model. I told her I wasn't very concerned about that but she is -- so that's the way it is.
The Outback is pretty nice and Subaru has a $2,000 rebate on it so the price is pretty nice as well. They had only one with a 5spd manual (turns out that manual transmissions are rare cars for Subaru -- a striking comparison to when I shopped for my Mazda6 wagon). It was a nice mid-shade of Blue and had a tan leather interior. Subaru has a really unique moonroof -- the roof comes in two sections. You press the button once and the first section tilts up. You press the button again and the first section tilts up a bit further to become a deflector and then the sunroof slides back to a 7/8ths open position that's supposed to reduce air buffeting. You push the button again and it slides back all the way. I kind of liked the design -- Barb felt it was too complicated.
The salesman pulled the car out of the garage (it had just been in for cleaning) and is going over the various features with the car running. Barb gets in and tries the sunroof and I'm in the back waiting for the test drive. She tries getting out again and the look on her face told me that there was no test drive that day for that car. The salesman is a bit confused but gamely goes on to talk about the features. I finally say "want to take it for a drive?" and she says (flatly) "no." Salesman is really confused now. So I gently say, well, we'll get back to you and hustle us off to my waiting car.
While waiting at the stop-n-go light, I ask if Barb is interested in looking at the Honda dealership just down the highway. We were planning on going to a movie in an hour so had a small amount of time to kill. I figured we'd just have her look at the Accord and then come back for a test drive.
She says "sure" so off we go and pop into the Honda showroom. There's customers everywhere and all the salespeople are tied up ... I just want to find if they have any Accords with manual transmissions and leather interior. Barb is looking closely at the Accord on the floor and I can tell it's appealing to her ... especially when she sees 26/34 mpg on the sticker.
We finally match up with a salesman who takes us out to look at a silver 6-cylinder 6-speed manual. She gets in, fires it up and off we go for a test drive. She's smitten but a bit worried about getting tickets with the six-cylinder ... it does move (ahem) quickly under her direction.
So I think she's leaning that direction but wants to try out the four-cylinder 5-speed manual transmission model first.
I think having a wagon has just lost out to having an Accord.
Stay tuned for more.
Friday, April 21, 2006
The adventure begins...
Tonight, Barb finally acknowledged that she needs to replace her 1995 Volvo station wagon. It's lasted a long time and seen over 185,000 miles of service. But, it committed the unpardonable sin: it leaked water today and apparently spilled onto her suit jacket.
Here's a photo of a similar vehicle:
She announced it by telling me she was giving me a valuable anniversary present: helping her buy a new car. I'll confess: I've been suggesting she replace the Volvo for at least two years as I figured she wanted to retire and not have to make car payments.
So, here's the challenge:
• must be a wagon and no SUVs/mini-SUVs etc may apply;
• must have leather or vinyl seats
• must have manual transmission
• not cost an arm and a leg
hmmm, this ought to be interesting!
Here's a photo of a similar vehicle:
She announced it by telling me she was giving me a valuable anniversary present: helping her buy a new car. I'll confess: I've been suggesting she replace the Volvo for at least two years as I figured she wanted to retire and not have to make car payments.
So, here's the challenge:
• must be a wagon and no SUVs/mini-SUVs etc may apply;
• must have leather or vinyl seats
• must have manual transmission
• not cost an arm and a leg
hmmm, this ought to be interesting!
Saturday, April 15, 2006
In Memory: Ardyce Gilna Horner Mons
My stepmother, Ardyce Mons, passed away on April 15th in the early morning (shortly after midnight). Jim, my oldest stepbrother and Ardyce's caretaker these past three-plus years, called this morning with the news that, while expected and not a surprise, was still terribly sad to hear.
Ardyce was a wonderful person. She became my mom after I was an adult but I'd known her when I was a child. She was very smart, well read and well educated, funny and bright. She looked after others and always inquired about how this person or that person was doing. When I made some colossal mistakes, she overlooked them (or looked beyond them) and extended grace. It's hard to think that she's gone.
One of the best things, fortunately, is that we had gathered in Denver a little more than a month ago to celebrate her 90th birthday. All six sons/step-sons were there and many of our families and it was a wonderful and fulfilling opportunity for us to gather and tell this woman how much we all loved and respected her. While her health had continued to decline, somehow she rallied that day and her eyes had the old sparkle and her mind the same ability to turn a phrase and make a quip. There's a full report on the party here and some additional pictures here.
Ardyce suffered from Multiple System Atrophy, a chronic progressive disease that is similar to Parkinson's. Cause of death was congestive heart failure.
Ardyce lived a rich and full life. Born and raised in Hastings, Nebraska, she graduated summa cum laude from Hastings College and worked for the local newspaper in Hastings after college. During that time she met and married Bill Horner with whom she had four sons: Jim, Burke, Bob and Dave. I recall that she traipsed across the United States during WWII as Bill was a naval officer and was stationed in several areas during the war.
After the war, they settled in Chicago and eventually moved to Lombard, Illinois ... I believe a year or two before our family moved to Lombard. Our families knew each other -- largely due to belonging to the same church: First Congregational of Lombard. I recall that my mom and Ardyce worked together on various church dinners and the like (especially during Lilacia Days when hordes of visitors would view Lombard's famous collection of Lilac bushes).
I believe Ardyce and Bill divorced in 1966 or 1967 -- strangely, I remember both my Mom and Dad telling me about the divorce as they had known how difficult the marriage had become and were glad that Illinois had finally passed a divorce law that permitted "no-fault" divorces. I knew Ardyce both from church and from her substitute teaching at our high school -- plus I still think she taught a Sunday School class or two of mine (which she vehemently denied). I also remember that Ardyce was attending Northern Illinois University and was the librarian at Wheaton High School. She counted Bob Woodward (one of the two Washington Post reporters who broke Watergate) and John Belushi (comedian extraordinaire) as two of her former patrons. (She didn't care much for Belushi, I fear!)
In the Spring of 1968, my mother died. Around Christmas that year, Ardyce and Dad bumped into each other (I believe it was at a Jewel Food Store -- ironic since Dad worked for Jewel for years) and Ardyce told Dad about the memorials the church had received in Mom's name and asked if he had a preference for one of several intended uses. Dad really appreciated her kindness and the way she had talked to him -- plus he had to find a date for a New Years party to which he had been invited. So he asked me if I think he should ask her out! I was unprepared to give dating advice to my own father but that's never stopped me from giving advice of any kind. I do remember that I thought it a bit odd that he'd be dating a woman who at times had been my substitute teacher.
Dad and Ardyce became a steady item. I was pretty much out of the house back then but for summers; my brother Roy was still in high school and tells me that Ardyce should have gotten partial credit for his high school diploma with all the help she gave him on homework assignments, etc. Dad and Ardyce would come out to visit me at Drake and Ardyce and Sharon (my first wife) became fast friends and allies.
Dad and Ardyce married on August 7th, 1971 -- one week before Sharon and I married. (Dad explained he wanted to introduce Ardyce as his wife in the reception line of our wedding.) About three years later, Dad retired and a few years after that Ardyce also retired.
Dad and Ardyce loved to travel via car. Ardyce had a huge network of family and friends across the United States and I think they visited darn near all of them during those years. On one trip back from the western United States (probably in 1977 or 1978), my Dad called and told me that they had found a place to retire to: Leisure World in Mesa AZ. Now this is true confession: my Dad was one of the last people I'd expect to move to a retirement community. And Ardyce was one of the last people I'd expect to accept the name "Leisure World" -- it was just too, well, contrived. So, I was convinced that Dad was just pulling an elaborate ruse (he had that kind of humor, after all) and I kept saying sarcastically, "sure, Dad, uh huh: Leisure World!" And he got madder and madder that I wouldn't believe him.
They moved to Leisure World later that year and moved into their home that was built on the golf course.
Dad and Ardyce loved it there and made a number of new friends. (We used to joke that Ardyce would know everyone's life story within 20 minutes of walking into a room filled with strangers.) Dad became a member of the homeowners association plus a founder of the local Lions Club; Ardyce joined all sorts of social clubs and delivered book reviews. The first summer there they stayed in Mesa (the summers were beastly hot) but thereafter would take off for cooler climes during the summers.
After about ten years there, Dad's health declined and Ardyce became a caretaker for him. He was not the best patient and she displayed both grace and good humor during this time -- I know it was difficult. Dad died in 1989.
Ardyce kept the home for several years and enjoyed her friendships at Leisure World. In particular, she would travel to Twain Hart CA with her good friend Betty Benedixon (not sure of the spelling on Betty's last name). As each grew older, the trips continued but at a slower pace.
Around 1998, Ardyce finally decided that she couldn't maintain the home and moved into the Beatitudes in Phoenix AZ. It was also around this time that the first symptoms of Multiple System Atrophy began to occur although the diagnosis wasn't formally made for several years. We visited her a few times after Dad's death and it became clearer that her physical health was declining and she needed increasing medical care. My brother Roy and his wife Jo visited each year and Roy ended up helping a great deal with coordinating her care and assisting her with some of the related issues.
In 2002, Jim finally convinced Ardyce that she would be better off moving to Denver where she'd be close to both Jim and Bob and where they could more easily coordinate her care, etc.
She started in an independent living facility but then transferred to assisted living care and finally nursing home care.
I was able to visit her more regularly in Denver. Alec, Barb and I saw her shortly after she moved to Denver and saw her small efficiency apartment. At that stage she tired easily but was still able to go out to a shopping mall (we bought her a couple of outfits for her birthday) and was pretty engaged.
Later, I made short trips with Drew and then again with Matt ... each time we were able to take her out for a drive and have a meal, etc.
Last spring, Jim suggested we visit her as it appeared her life was drawing to a close. We drove out in June and timed our visit with Roy and Jo's visit. Her health was continuing to decline and we saw that she was having a difficult time mustering the strength to stay focused on the conversation. After an hour or so, her strength just ebbed away and she needed to lie down and rest.
Because of her failing health, she was a candidate for the hospice program and we sat with her as the nursing home staff explained the benefits of the program, how it would operate, etc. Somehow, something got lost in the translation and Ardyce thought she was being asked not to enter the program but to administer it. She kindly explained to the nursing home staff that she appreciated the offer but she'd volunteered for things her whole lifetime and she'd prefer that somebody else take on the responsibility! It was a priceless moment and summed up her life so neatly -- this was a woman who took on and mastered so many challenges and it only made sense that she'd be asked to take on another one!
We all thought we'd said our last goodbyes to her that summer. But Ardyce wasn't one to give in easily and she survived through Christmas and January. In February, it was decided to celebrate her 90th birthday ane we had another call from Jim. While discussing the arrival of her sons Burke and David, she pointedly asked "and what about my other two boys?" Well, neither Roy nor I could spurn an invitation like that!
She lived a rich and full life. She gave more than she took. She will be missed.
Ardyce was a wonderful person. She became my mom after I was an adult but I'd known her when I was a child. She was very smart, well read and well educated, funny and bright. She looked after others and always inquired about how this person or that person was doing. When I made some colossal mistakes, she overlooked them (or looked beyond them) and extended grace. It's hard to think that she's gone.
One of the best things, fortunately, is that we had gathered in Denver a little more than a month ago to celebrate her 90th birthday. All six sons/step-sons were there and many of our families and it was a wonderful and fulfilling opportunity for us to gather and tell this woman how much we all loved and respected her. While her health had continued to decline, somehow she rallied that day and her eyes had the old sparkle and her mind the same ability to turn a phrase and make a quip. There's a full report on the party here and some additional pictures here.
Ardyce suffered from Multiple System Atrophy, a chronic progressive disease that is similar to Parkinson's. Cause of death was congestive heart failure.
Ardyce lived a rich and full life. Born and raised in Hastings, Nebraska, she graduated summa cum laude from Hastings College and worked for the local newspaper in Hastings after college. During that time she met and married Bill Horner with whom she had four sons: Jim, Burke, Bob and Dave. I recall that she traipsed across the United States during WWII as Bill was a naval officer and was stationed in several areas during the war.
After the war, they settled in Chicago and eventually moved to Lombard, Illinois ... I believe a year or two before our family moved to Lombard. Our families knew each other -- largely due to belonging to the same church: First Congregational of Lombard. I recall that my mom and Ardyce worked together on various church dinners and the like (especially during Lilacia Days when hordes of visitors would view Lombard's famous collection of Lilac bushes).
I believe Ardyce and Bill divorced in 1966 or 1967 -- strangely, I remember both my Mom and Dad telling me about the divorce as they had known how difficult the marriage had become and were glad that Illinois had finally passed a divorce law that permitted "no-fault" divorces. I knew Ardyce both from church and from her substitute teaching at our high school -- plus I still think she taught a Sunday School class or two of mine (which she vehemently denied). I also remember that Ardyce was attending Northern Illinois University and was the librarian at Wheaton High School. She counted Bob Woodward (one of the two Washington Post reporters who broke Watergate) and John Belushi (comedian extraordinaire) as two of her former patrons. (She didn't care much for Belushi, I fear!)
In the Spring of 1968, my mother died. Around Christmas that year, Ardyce and Dad bumped into each other (I believe it was at a Jewel Food Store -- ironic since Dad worked for Jewel for years) and Ardyce told Dad about the memorials the church had received in Mom's name and asked if he had a preference for one of several intended uses. Dad really appreciated her kindness and the way she had talked to him -- plus he had to find a date for a New Years party to which he had been invited. So he asked me if I think he should ask her out! I was unprepared to give dating advice to my own father but that's never stopped me from giving advice of any kind. I do remember that I thought it a bit odd that he'd be dating a woman who at times had been my substitute teacher.
Dad and Ardyce became a steady item. I was pretty much out of the house back then but for summers; my brother Roy was still in high school and tells me that Ardyce should have gotten partial credit for his high school diploma with all the help she gave him on homework assignments, etc. Dad and Ardyce would come out to visit me at Drake and Ardyce and Sharon (my first wife) became fast friends and allies.
Dad and Ardyce married on August 7th, 1971 -- one week before Sharon and I married. (Dad explained he wanted to introduce Ardyce as his wife in the reception line of our wedding.) About three years later, Dad retired and a few years after that Ardyce also retired.
Dad and Ardyce loved to travel via car. Ardyce had a huge network of family and friends across the United States and I think they visited darn near all of them during those years. On one trip back from the western United States (probably in 1977 or 1978), my Dad called and told me that they had found a place to retire to: Leisure World in Mesa AZ. Now this is true confession: my Dad was one of the last people I'd expect to move to a retirement community. And Ardyce was one of the last people I'd expect to accept the name "Leisure World" -- it was just too, well, contrived. So, I was convinced that Dad was just pulling an elaborate ruse (he had that kind of humor, after all) and I kept saying sarcastically, "sure, Dad, uh huh: Leisure World!" And he got madder and madder that I wouldn't believe him.
They moved to Leisure World later that year and moved into their home that was built on the golf course.
Dad and Ardyce loved it there and made a number of new friends. (We used to joke that Ardyce would know everyone's life story within 20 minutes of walking into a room filled with strangers.) Dad became a member of the homeowners association plus a founder of the local Lions Club; Ardyce joined all sorts of social clubs and delivered book reviews. The first summer there they stayed in Mesa (the summers were beastly hot) but thereafter would take off for cooler climes during the summers.
After about ten years there, Dad's health declined and Ardyce became a caretaker for him. He was not the best patient and she displayed both grace and good humor during this time -- I know it was difficult. Dad died in 1989.
Ardyce kept the home for several years and enjoyed her friendships at Leisure World. In particular, she would travel to Twain Hart CA with her good friend Betty Benedixon (not sure of the spelling on Betty's last name). As each grew older, the trips continued but at a slower pace.
Around 1998, Ardyce finally decided that she couldn't maintain the home and moved into the Beatitudes in Phoenix AZ. It was also around this time that the first symptoms of Multiple System Atrophy began to occur although the diagnosis wasn't formally made for several years. We visited her a few times after Dad's death and it became clearer that her physical health was declining and she needed increasing medical care. My brother Roy and his wife Jo visited each year and Roy ended up helping a great deal with coordinating her care and assisting her with some of the related issues.
In 2002, Jim finally convinced Ardyce that she would be better off moving to Denver where she'd be close to both Jim and Bob and where they could more easily coordinate her care, etc.
She started in an independent living facility but then transferred to assisted living care and finally nursing home care.
I was able to visit her more regularly in Denver. Alec, Barb and I saw her shortly after she moved to Denver and saw her small efficiency apartment. At that stage she tired easily but was still able to go out to a shopping mall (we bought her a couple of outfits for her birthday) and was pretty engaged.
Later, I made short trips with Drew and then again with Matt ... each time we were able to take her out for a drive and have a meal, etc.
Last spring, Jim suggested we visit her as it appeared her life was drawing to a close. We drove out in June and timed our visit with Roy and Jo's visit. Her health was continuing to decline and we saw that she was having a difficult time mustering the strength to stay focused on the conversation. After an hour or so, her strength just ebbed away and she needed to lie down and rest.
Because of her failing health, she was a candidate for the hospice program and we sat with her as the nursing home staff explained the benefits of the program, how it would operate, etc. Somehow, something got lost in the translation and Ardyce thought she was being asked not to enter the program but to administer it. She kindly explained to the nursing home staff that she appreciated the offer but she'd volunteered for things her whole lifetime and she'd prefer that somebody else take on the responsibility! It was a priceless moment and summed up her life so neatly -- this was a woman who took on and mastered so many challenges and it only made sense that she'd be asked to take on another one!
We all thought we'd said our last goodbyes to her that summer. But Ardyce wasn't one to give in easily and she survived through Christmas and January. In February, it was decided to celebrate her 90th birthday ane we had another call from Jim. While discussing the arrival of her sons Burke and David, she pointedly asked "and what about my other two boys?" Well, neither Roy nor I could spurn an invitation like that!
She lived a rich and full life. She gave more than she took. She will be missed.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Nauta can breathe again!
Well, at 9:15 this morning, I pulled up to Classic Auto Storage and picked up the Miata, nicknamed Nauta. When I checked my service log, I found that this year I picked her up almost a week later than last year ... I could have sworn I had waited until the 15th back then! I just couldn't wait any longer this year. And I picked the best day of 2006 to pick her up: sunny and temperatures in the 70's!
Nauta had been detailed over the weekend and just shined when I picked her up. The detailer there does a superb job and the price is reasonable ... plus as I age, I find that the wear and tear on my shoulders and arms from the wiping/buffing etc is literally and figuratively a pain. What's really nice is that the engine compartment is steam cleaned and looks like you could eat off the valve covers (well, probably not, but it is really clean).
(Rufus, the Mazda6 wagon, was left behind for just one day while I have it detailed ... its first coat of wax and a thorough interior/exterior cleaning.)
After picking her up, I stopped at HomeDepot to pick up a new remote garage door opener. (The remote that had been with the Miata had to go to the Mazda6 since it doesn't have HomeLink like the Passat did.) The new Miata remote is one of the small key-fob remotes ... very nice and was programmed in the blink of an eye.
Then it was off to AutoEdge in Mahtomedi for an oil change and a "just-out-of-storage" once-over from the techs there. When I talked to the owner there, he suggested I have the oil changed before putting the car into storage next fall ... which is what I had planned to do when the service tech there disuaded me and told me to wait until I took her out of storage.
Apparently that service tech is no longer with AutoEdge and his recommendation to me is symptomatic of the reason he's not there. Swell. But I doubt there was any damage ... it's just that I want to baby this car for several more years when I can afford to buy a newer Miata.
Drove back home and discovered that Barb was taking the day off ... so we went back to White Bear and had lunch on the patio of Washington Square. Also took a drive around and enjoyed a Minnesota Spring.
Alec wanted to play catch ... so we did. Remember the pain I avoided by not waxing the car? Well, I now am feeling it from tossing the ball back and forth for 45 minutes (grin).
So a great day to have the Miata back and to enjoy. Tomorrow it's back to work!
Nauta had been detailed over the weekend and just shined when I picked her up. The detailer there does a superb job and the price is reasonable ... plus as I age, I find that the wear and tear on my shoulders and arms from the wiping/buffing etc is literally and figuratively a pain. What's really nice is that the engine compartment is steam cleaned and looks like you could eat off the valve covers (well, probably not, but it is really clean).
(Rufus, the Mazda6 wagon, was left behind for just one day while I have it detailed ... its first coat of wax and a thorough interior/exterior cleaning.)
After picking her up, I stopped at HomeDepot to pick up a new remote garage door opener. (The remote that had been with the Miata had to go to the Mazda6 since it doesn't have HomeLink like the Passat did.) The new Miata remote is one of the small key-fob remotes ... very nice and was programmed in the blink of an eye.
Then it was off to AutoEdge in Mahtomedi for an oil change and a "just-out-of-storage" once-over from the techs there. When I talked to the owner there, he suggested I have the oil changed before putting the car into storage next fall ... which is what I had planned to do when the service tech there disuaded me and told me to wait until I took her out of storage.
Apparently that service tech is no longer with AutoEdge and his recommendation to me is symptomatic of the reason he's not there. Swell. But I doubt there was any damage ... it's just that I want to baby this car for several more years when I can afford to buy a newer Miata.
Drove back home and discovered that Barb was taking the day off ... so we went back to White Bear and had lunch on the patio of Washington Square. Also took a drive around and enjoyed a Minnesota Spring.
Alec wanted to play catch ... so we did. Remember the pain I avoided by not waxing the car? Well, I now am feeling it from tossing the ball back and forth for 45 minutes (grin).
So a great day to have the Miata back and to enjoy. Tomorrow it's back to work!
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Sorta Empty Nesters
Well, the kids are gone (temporarily). Drew is far gone ... he's been in Argentina since last August (and won't be back 'til next August) with a side trip to Northern Ireland for 2.5 months. We've cobbled together a "system" of communication using e-mail, Skype (when he's in Argentina) and calling card (viva cheap cards for South America). Just haven't figured a way to sip a beer or go to a basketball game via online communications, alas.
(There are two things I miss most: being able to spontaneously call and grab a beer or bite to eat with him or be able to watch the teams he coaches play basketball.)
This week Matt (and Molly) join Drew and Meghan in Buenos Aires. So the mid-kid is out of country as well -- but not out of mind. Barb visibly pales when I start talking NCAA tournament stuff and i find that others strangely aren't available when I drop in at the office or call. Hmmmmmm.
(Poor Roy got stuck for ten minutes the other night when I called to [briefly] commiserate with him over the loss of Southern Illinois -- in the first round and who I picked to win in that first game and thus upsetting my bracketology but who's holding a grudge. Wait a minute, I digress -- and take this too seriously. Anyway, I commiserated with him and then proceeded to bore him stiff with my NCAA talk. Ouch -- sorry, bro!)
And this weekend, young Alec took off for a weekend of fun and frivolity in Little Falls. That's the home of Ms. Angela -- Alec's "companion" last summer and a true friend of Alec and his gang. Tricia -- Alec's very good friend -- was also invited (or Tricia was invited and Alec got to go along -- depends on who you ask first). Tricia's a bit like Barb -- she packed a large bag of snacks, items to work on whilst driving, books, notebooks, etc. Poor Alec was consigned to the back seat, sharing space with two suitcases, a few textbooks, said "car bag" plus his "car bag" and a pretty white cat who is deaf and hopefully not afflicted with motion sickneess.
As a result, Barb and I had this house all to ourselves. Our very own adult (most of the time at least) selves. The novelty was fun. We luxuriated in having the house to ourselves.
But. It's quiet. Very, very quiet.
Now, Alec doesn't make a lot of noise and he's pretty good at keeping himself entertained for hours on end. But he's a roamer ... and a snacker ... and a checker-outer-of-things. So, even though one or two words from him is a lengthy fillibuster -- or the equivalent of a short speech from Robert Byrd (D-WVa) -- you kind of miss that muttered "fine" when you ask him how things are going.
There's not the background noise of the x-box when you walk by his room. There's not the "self-talking" in the bathroom as he prepares for bed and rehashes all that went on in his day -- or should have gone on in his mind. There's not the clatter of cabinet doors, refrigerator, bowl and spoon etc as he makes a bowl of cereal.
It's quiet. Kind of nice. But sort of empty.
In a few hours, Alec will return. In a few days, Matt will return. In a few months, Drew will return. God, time can move so slowly. But it sure moved in quick-step as they grew up.
(There are two things I miss most: being able to spontaneously call and grab a beer or bite to eat with him or be able to watch the teams he coaches play basketball.)
This week Matt (and Molly) join Drew and Meghan in Buenos Aires. So the mid-kid is out of country as well -- but not out of mind. Barb visibly pales when I start talking NCAA tournament stuff and i find that others strangely aren't available when I drop in at the office or call. Hmmmmmm.
(Poor Roy got stuck for ten minutes the other night when I called to [briefly] commiserate with him over the loss of Southern Illinois -- in the first round and who I picked to win in that first game and thus upsetting my bracketology but who's holding a grudge. Wait a minute, I digress -- and take this too seriously. Anyway, I commiserated with him and then proceeded to bore him stiff with my NCAA talk. Ouch -- sorry, bro!)
And this weekend, young Alec took off for a weekend of fun and frivolity in Little Falls. That's the home of Ms. Angela -- Alec's "companion" last summer and a true friend of Alec and his gang. Tricia -- Alec's very good friend -- was also invited (or Tricia was invited and Alec got to go along -- depends on who you ask first). Tricia's a bit like Barb -- she packed a large bag of snacks, items to work on whilst driving, books, notebooks, etc. Poor Alec was consigned to the back seat, sharing space with two suitcases, a few textbooks, said "car bag" plus his "car bag" and a pretty white cat who is deaf and hopefully not afflicted with motion sickneess.
As a result, Barb and I had this house all to ourselves. Our very own adult (most of the time at least) selves. The novelty was fun. We luxuriated in having the house to ourselves.
But. It's quiet. Very, very quiet.
Now, Alec doesn't make a lot of noise and he's pretty good at keeping himself entertained for hours on end. But he's a roamer ... and a snacker ... and a checker-outer-of-things. So, even though one or two words from him is a lengthy fillibuster -- or the equivalent of a short speech from Robert Byrd (D-WVa) -- you kind of miss that muttered "fine" when you ask him how things are going.
There's not the background noise of the x-box when you walk by his room. There's not the "self-talking" in the bathroom as he prepares for bed and rehashes all that went on in his day -- or should have gone on in his mind. There's not the clatter of cabinet doors, refrigerator, bowl and spoon etc as he makes a bowl of cereal.
It's quiet. Kind of nice. But sort of empty.
In a few hours, Alec will return. In a few days, Matt will return. In a few months, Drew will return. God, time can move so slowly. But it sure moved in quick-step as they grew up.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
More Birthday Pictures
As more pictures are received from Ardyce's Birthday Party, I'll add 'em to this page.
From Jim Horner (03/08/06)
Here's the family (well most of those who were there). From left to right. Seated: Pam (Jim's wife), Hilda (roommate) and Ardyce. Standing: Jeff, Jim, Roy, Alec (in front of Roy) Sean, Rick, Judy (Bob's wife), Barb, Dave, Burke and Bob. Sean and Jeff are Bob & Judy's sons. Alec is Rick & Barb's son.
Below are Ardyce and her Six Sons. Seated next to Ardyce is Roy. Standing (left to right) are Jim, Rick, David, Burke and Bob. We're a handsome group and Ardyce is due a lot of credit ... she helped dress us all at one time or another!
From Jim Horner (03/08/06)
Here's the family (well most of those who were there). From left to right. Seated: Pam (Jim's wife), Hilda (roommate) and Ardyce. Standing: Jeff, Jim, Roy, Alec (in front of Roy) Sean, Rick, Judy (Bob's wife), Barb, Dave, Burke and Bob. Sean and Jeff are Bob & Judy's sons. Alec is Rick & Barb's son.
Below are Ardyce and her Six Sons. Seated next to Ardyce is Roy. Standing (left to right) are Jim, Rick, David, Burke and Bob. We're a handsome group and Ardyce is due a lot of credit ... she helped dress us all at one time or another!
the "immediate family"
There are some pictures of Alec in a few other entries (and more to come). But I realized I didn't really have any of the other two boys or of Barb. So, to remedy this:
this is the "family" and significant others. From left to right:
Matt, Molly Miller, Megan Powers, Drew, Alec and Barb
Matt is a first year law school student (University of St Thomas);
Molly is a senior at St Thomas;
Megan is working on her Masters under a Rotary Fellowship at the University of Salvador in Buenos Aires Argentina. From 1/06 through mid-March, she and Drew are in Coleraine Northern Ireland working on her internship. They return to BA in mid March and were in the US over Christmas.
Drew is a teacher and freshman coach at Cretin-Derham Hall High School. Right now he's on a one-year leave and teaching part-time in BA
Alec is in his second of three years at Career Life Transition, a program through our local school district. He's also active in Special Olympics, and works at Old Chicago restaurant.
Barb is a Senior Attorney and supervising attorney with the Hennepin County Public Defenders Office.
And here's a picture of the four Mons Men:
this is the "family" and significant others. From left to right:
Matt, Molly Miller, Megan Powers, Drew, Alec and Barb
Matt is a first year law school student (University of St Thomas);
Molly is a senior at St Thomas;
Megan is working on her Masters under a Rotary Fellowship at the University of Salvador in Buenos Aires Argentina. From 1/06 through mid-March, she and Drew are in Coleraine Northern Ireland working on her internship. They return to BA in mid March and were in the US over Christmas.
Drew is a teacher and freshman coach at Cretin-Derham Hall High School. Right now he's on a one-year leave and teaching part-time in BA
Alec is in his second of three years at Career Life Transition, a program through our local school district. He's also active in Special Olympics, and works at Old Chicago restaurant.
Barb is a Senior Attorney and supervising attorney with the Hennepin County Public Defenders Office.
And here's a picture of the four Mons Men:
03/05 - Happy 90th Birthday Ardyce!
My stepmother, Ardyce Gilna Horner Mons, turned 90 this past Sunday. Ardyce has six sons: four are "biological" -- Jim, Burke, Bob and Dave. My brother Roy and I are the "inherited" sons from her second marriage to my dad. (Dad and Ardyce started dating when I was a Junior in college and Roy a junior in high school. Three years later they were married.) All of her sons attended as did many daughters-in-law and family.
Ardyce suffers from Multiple System Atrophy -- a progressive and degenerative disease which is somewhat similar to Parkinsons. She's in a nursing home and her oldest son, Jim Horner (along with his wife, Pam), has done a spectacular job of coordinating care, etc. Another son, Bob and his wife, Judy, also live in the area and spend a fair amount of time with her.
Alec, Barb and I visited her last summer and at that time Ardyce was admitted to hospice care. (Typically hospice care is offered only when the physician and staff believe that end of life is near -- generally within six months -- and is intended to help the patient manage care in a palliative mode rather than treatment.) We thought we had said our goodbyes.
But we hadn't ... we had a second chance!
A few weeks ago, Jim called and told me that the four Horner brothers were planning on attending her birthday and he suggested we might want to attend as well. (Apparently when Jim told Ardyce that the four Horners were going to be there, she pointedly asked "And what about my other sons?" You can't refuse an invitation like that!!)
Visiting Ardyce last summer, we had all noticed how tired she became and how difficult it was for her to converse. So we were a bit apprehensive ... that was exacerbated by a couple of phone calls I'd made after the holidays when she wasn't really able to talk over the phone.
However, she truly was energized by the event.
We visited her Saturday morning and she seemed to be doing okay. Not great but okay. We had a brief visit since we didn't want to wear her out before the party.
When we came in for the party Sunday, we were amazed. She had a nice outfit on, her hair had been styled (kudos to the staff who did it!!) and she was bright-eyed and very talkative.
The event started a bit before 1:00 and ran for a bit more than three hours. During that time, she heard toasts, a few short remarks from her sons and family, received phone calls from many of her grandchildren, relatives, and friends. Through it all she stayed alert and cracked a few jokes plus delivered a few verbal elbow jabs!
It was truly a wonderful, affirming and amazing party! I'm sure glad that my dad persisted in proposing until he wore her down! She's given us a lot before this but we truly received a gift of how to live a life on that Sunday!
Here's some photos that I took. Others were much better in getting snap shots so I'll probably add some later on. But if you would like a photo, feel free to right click on the images and download it. If you'd instead like a larger photo with higher resolution, let me know and I'll e-mail them to you. (Most of the original photos are 8x10s and at 300dpi resolution) I also have a couple of brief videos from the party ... let me know if you'd like me to e-mail them to you.
(above) My brother, Roy, with Ardyce as he tries to explain another escapade!
(below) Our son, Alec, with Grandma! Alec also loved getting to meet two new uncles and having five uncles around to talk to.
(below) Ardyce and Hilda, her friend and roommate. Ardyce has had several roommates but the relationships have been fairly poor. She and Hilda get along very well and Hilda spends a lot of time encouraging Ardyce. We really appreciate her assistance and good cheer!
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Ardyce's 90th Birthday - the backstory
Barb, Alec and I drove out to Colorado to celebrate Ardyce's (my step-mother's) 90th Birthday. Here is a brief account of our trip and some photos. The story of the party and photos are in a separate entry that precedes this one.
Thursday and Friday
We made the trip out in two days ... first day to Lincoln NE and arrived in Denver around 3PM on Friday. I'd talked to Roy about picking him up from the airport; his flight was due in at 3 and through a stroke of part genius, part planning and mostly luck we arrived at 3:10. Met him at the arrival level and off we went to the Holiday Inn at Wheat Ridge.
After checking in, we headed to downtown Denver. Alec spotted an ESPN Zone restaurant and wanted to go in. While there, we saw that the Missouri Valley Conference tournament with Southern Illinois (Roy's alma mater) on one of the 20 different "feeds" in the main dining area. So, we quickly glommed onto a booth with our own private TV screen and cheered for the Salukis. We got to see the complete second half & they won. This technology is pretty neat.
Following dinner we strolled to The Tattered Cover bookstore and I think everyone bought at least one book. I found Strunk & White's Elements of Style with illustrations and in hardbound (a great resource for us would-be writers).
Later, we got in touch with Dave and Burke Horner. We decided to meet for some drinks and Burke asked me to pick the place. I quickly consulted the GPS to see what was close to us and selected (drum roll please) The Sports Page Saloon, figuring it would be some sort of sports bar. Well ... we'll let the pictures tell part of the story:
Now I'm not sure what the "Pauz Inn" sign is all about but there was no sign announcing the Sports News Saloon. At least Burke was able to locate it. Actually, it looks much better in the pictures than in person. In person, it was a smoky somewhat run-down bar with a decided country-western flavor, lots of second-hand smoke and about 10 very sad-looking customers who were even sadder-sounding when they sang karaoke.
But it wasn't the venue -- it was the company!!
David and I had last seen each other several years ago while we were starting out on vacation and he & family were completing their vacation. We met accidentally at a, um, rest stop. While we were, uh, standing next to each other. Now normally "guy etiquette isn't to look either right or left but just ahead. I did glance right and lo and behold there was David!
This meeting, however, was much more conventional.
Burke and I hadn't seen each other in about 28.5 years ... I remember that Drew was 6 months old and we were visiting Dad and Ardyce during the summer while Burke, Sue and their family (at least Lisa and maybe Devon) were also visiting.
We had a great time although Burke may have bought a round of drinks (or more) for the bar when the waitress held his credit card hostage.
Saturday
That morning we paid a short visit to Ardyce and talked to her about the party for the next day. She seemed a bit tired (she'd had a number of visits from Burke, David, etc) but very excited about the party the next day.
That afternoon we visited Boulder (a few miles north and west of where we were staying and where Jim and Pam had taken us when we visited last summer. Walked around and bought a book or two plus took a drive up the Front Range into Nederland. I was a bit bothered by the altitude so I stayed in the car while Roy, Barb & Alec walked to the waterfall.
Here's a photo of Nederland and of the waterfall (neither of which I took but grabbed via the 'net).
Saturday night, all six brothers and families got together at a restaurant entitled "Chicago" and featuring Italian beef sandwiches, Jays Potato Chips and Green Rivers. Some non-Chicagoan infidels had gyros, bbq sandwiches etc but it was pretty authentic Chicago grub. Kudos to Bob and Jim who had scouted it out. And if any of us die of cholesterol-laden arteries, sue Burke who paid for the meal. (Thanks Burke!)
After dinner, we went to Bob and Judy's new home and watched a video that Jim had made with Ardyce. Ardyce described some of her family's history, how they got to Hastings NE, growing up in Hastings and her meeting Bill Horner. It was very interesting and Jim believes he has several other tapes for us to hear as well.
Sunday
The big day. We started it early and had breakfast with Jim and Pam and then went to their church (Cherry Creek Presbyterian). That is one large church! Made our church feel puny in comparison and Roy said his church is even smaller than ours. It was a great time to share with Jim and Pam and we appreciated their including us.
After church, Jim and Pam headed over to set up the party and we did a bit of sight-seeing in the neighborhoods around Denver. Denver is clearly a western city but there's some striking similarities with Minneapolis and St Paul as some of the housing was built in the same period as ours.
I'll upload pictures and give a description of the party in a separate entry ... it precedes this so you may have already seen it.
After the party, Roy, Alec Barb and I unwound with a glass of wine and then went back to downtown Denver.
We had dinner at Marlow's (I think I've been there every time when in Denver -- great food and great Manhattans) and spun memories. It's always great to see Roy and re-establish our connections. Poor Alec and Barb probably got bored just as they did last summer and again at Thanksgiving. But Roy and I find ourselves just, well, fascinating!!
Monday
Roy left for his 6:30 AM flight around 5:00 on the shuttle. Fortunately he demurred when I offered to drive him ... come to think of it, I didn't make the offer more than once and not very strongly at that. (Kind of like "well, I guess you wouldn't want me to drive you if I had to get up that early, right? Huh, right?")
We took off for Omaha. As we were driving, Barb idly said "gee, we're not that far from Hastings (Ardyce's home town)" Then she said, "gee, it would be nice to take some pictures of her old home there." Then she said, "you know, I don't think it's that far off the Interstate after all." I got the hint.
So, we started off and located Ardyce's old home: 1819 W 3rd Street, Hastings NE.
The siding has been updated and there's probably a few other updates but as you look up and down the street, it's not too hard to envision how it looked in the 1920s and 30s when Ardyce's family lived there. It's about six blocks from the business district and a block from a major east-west street where we suspect the buses ran that took Ardyce back and forth to the college.
So, it was off to the college to take some additional photos:
We finally straggled into Omaha around 7:30 at night. I was bushed, Barb was tired and Alec was all set to go swimming. (his one and only swimming event of the entire trip ... much to his chagrin)
Tuesday
Because we had made such a long drive on Monday, Tuesday was pretty easy. We left at a leisurely 10 AM and made it home before 5PM. In all, over 2100 miles and a lot of great memories.
Thursday and Friday
We made the trip out in two days ... first day to Lincoln NE and arrived in Denver around 3PM on Friday. I'd talked to Roy about picking him up from the airport; his flight was due in at 3 and through a stroke of part genius, part planning and mostly luck we arrived at 3:10. Met him at the arrival level and off we went to the Holiday Inn at Wheat Ridge.
After checking in, we headed to downtown Denver. Alec spotted an ESPN Zone restaurant and wanted to go in. While there, we saw that the Missouri Valley Conference tournament with Southern Illinois (Roy's alma mater) on one of the 20 different "feeds" in the main dining area. So, we quickly glommed onto a booth with our own private TV screen and cheered for the Salukis. We got to see the complete second half & they won. This technology is pretty neat.
Following dinner we strolled to The Tattered Cover bookstore and I think everyone bought at least one book. I found Strunk & White's Elements of Style with illustrations and in hardbound (a great resource for us would-be writers).
Later, we got in touch with Dave and Burke Horner. We decided to meet for some drinks and Burke asked me to pick the place. I quickly consulted the GPS to see what was close to us and selected (drum roll please) The Sports Page Saloon, figuring it would be some sort of sports bar. Well ... we'll let the pictures tell part of the story:
Now I'm not sure what the "Pauz Inn" sign is all about but there was no sign announcing the Sports News Saloon. At least Burke was able to locate it. Actually, it looks much better in the pictures than in person. In person, it was a smoky somewhat run-down bar with a decided country-western flavor, lots of second-hand smoke and about 10 very sad-looking customers who were even sadder-sounding when they sang karaoke.
But it wasn't the venue -- it was the company!!
David and I had last seen each other several years ago while we were starting out on vacation and he & family were completing their vacation. We met accidentally at a, um, rest stop. While we were, uh, standing next to each other. Now normally "guy etiquette isn't to look either right or left but just ahead. I did glance right and lo and behold there was David!
This meeting, however, was much more conventional.
Burke and I hadn't seen each other in about 28.5 years ... I remember that Drew was 6 months old and we were visiting Dad and Ardyce during the summer while Burke, Sue and their family (at least Lisa and maybe Devon) were also visiting.
We had a great time although Burke may have bought a round of drinks (or more) for the bar when the waitress held his credit card hostage.
Saturday
That morning we paid a short visit to Ardyce and talked to her about the party for the next day. She seemed a bit tired (she'd had a number of visits from Burke, David, etc) but very excited about the party the next day.
That afternoon we visited Boulder (a few miles north and west of where we were staying and where Jim and Pam had taken us when we visited last summer. Walked around and bought a book or two plus took a drive up the Front Range into Nederland. I was a bit bothered by the altitude so I stayed in the car while Roy, Barb & Alec walked to the waterfall.
Here's a photo of Nederland and of the waterfall (neither of which I took but grabbed via the 'net).
Saturday night, all six brothers and families got together at a restaurant entitled "Chicago" and featuring Italian beef sandwiches, Jays Potato Chips and Green Rivers. Some non-Chicagoan infidels had gyros, bbq sandwiches etc but it was pretty authentic Chicago grub. Kudos to Bob and Jim who had scouted it out. And if any of us die of cholesterol-laden arteries, sue Burke who paid for the meal. (Thanks Burke!)
After dinner, we went to Bob and Judy's new home and watched a video that Jim had made with Ardyce. Ardyce described some of her family's history, how they got to Hastings NE, growing up in Hastings and her meeting Bill Horner. It was very interesting and Jim believes he has several other tapes for us to hear as well.
Sunday
The big day. We started it early and had breakfast with Jim and Pam and then went to their church (Cherry Creek Presbyterian). That is one large church! Made our church feel puny in comparison and Roy said his church is even smaller than ours. It was a great time to share with Jim and Pam and we appreciated their including us.
After church, Jim and Pam headed over to set up the party and we did a bit of sight-seeing in the neighborhoods around Denver. Denver is clearly a western city but there's some striking similarities with Minneapolis and St Paul as some of the housing was built in the same period as ours.
I'll upload pictures and give a description of the party in a separate entry ... it precedes this so you may have already seen it.
After the party, Roy, Alec Barb and I unwound with a glass of wine and then went back to downtown Denver.
We had dinner at Marlow's (I think I've been there every time when in Denver -- great food and great Manhattans) and spun memories. It's always great to see Roy and re-establish our connections. Poor Alec and Barb probably got bored just as they did last summer and again at Thanksgiving. But Roy and I find ourselves just, well, fascinating!!
Monday
Roy left for his 6:30 AM flight around 5:00 on the shuttle. Fortunately he demurred when I offered to drive him ... come to think of it, I didn't make the offer more than once and not very strongly at that. (Kind of like "well, I guess you wouldn't want me to drive you if I had to get up that early, right? Huh, right?")
We took off for Omaha. As we were driving, Barb idly said "gee, we're not that far from Hastings (Ardyce's home town)" Then she said, "gee, it would be nice to take some pictures of her old home there." Then she said, "you know, I don't think it's that far off the Interstate after all." I got the hint.
So, we started off and located Ardyce's old home: 1819 W 3rd Street, Hastings NE.
The siding has been updated and there's probably a few other updates but as you look up and down the street, it's not too hard to envision how it looked in the 1920s and 30s when Ardyce's family lived there. It's about six blocks from the business district and a block from a major east-west street where we suspect the buses ran that took Ardyce back and forth to the college.
So, it was off to the college to take some additional photos:
We finally straggled into Omaha around 7:30 at night. I was bushed, Barb was tired and Alec was all set to go swimming. (his one and only swimming event of the entire trip ... much to his chagrin)
Tuesday
Because we had made such a long drive on Monday, Tuesday was pretty easy. We left at a leisurely 10 AM and made it home before 5PM. In all, over 2100 miles and a lot of great memories.
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