Posts from — January 2008

If you’ve driven down Interstate 70 through Western Kansas you’ve certainly seen the billboards that proudly declare that “Hays Has Jobs.”  That may still be the case, but it’s not all they’ve got.  If you ask me, Hays Has Crazy!!

Let’s take a stroll through recent events in Hays and I’ll let you be the judge.

• Passenger Accidentally Carried Fake Grenade
• Standoff Ends In Tragedy
• HMC Bomb Threat Cleared

Who says nothing exciting ever happens in Western Kansas?

Rodney and I dropped by the Elling’s home to pick up some items.  Unbeknown to me, one of the items we were picking up would be their Christmas present to me.  Truly, I was shocked and amazed when I opened the bag to find a flour sifter.  My exact response was, “that’s f—king awesome!”  That was followed by “D’oh!” because my  exclamation was made  in the presence of three lovely young ladies, ages 7, 5, and 3.  (I think that’s right.)

It’s humorous because the gift was inspired by a conversation we had when they were over for dinner following the tree trimming party with the girls.  When we talking about the homemade pizza that was made for supper I mentioned that Rodney really wanted a flour sifter for Christmas.  He didn’t, it was simply me mentioning it because I’d read an article that we’d have much better results with breads, etc. if sifted flour was used.  We also discussed how she used an egg slicer for olives, etc.  As such, the flour sifter was accompanied by an egg slicer.

As Rodney said near evening’s end, this is yet another example of the fact that it’s the thought that truly counts.  It’s true, sometimes the smallest gifts have the greatest meaning.

When Kansas defeated Virginia Tech there was much rejoicing! Various pundits questioned the legitimacy of Kansas’ amazing season, countless of which also thought it was incredulous weeks ago when teams like Louisiana and Ohio State were ranked below teams like Kansas. Again, there was much rejoicing when KU succeeded and proved the pundits wrong!

On Monday, the number one ranked team in the country, Ohio State lost to Louisiana State. OSU’s performance was much like that of a firecracker. It explodes, you say “Wow!” but then it’s over. They started the game with a ‘Wow!’ but that was it. We sat there watching the rest of the game wondering what happened?

Maybe it’s time that people will actually acknowledge the BCS system sucks and it’s time for Division I to begin using a playoff system like the rest.

So it happened yesterday — Tom & Jayme got hitched. It seems like only weeks ago they got engaged but it has been more than a year (I think). The Mass itself was beautiful and certainly one of the more elegant and truly heartfelt weddings I’ve had the privilege to be invited to attend.

The day started early as Rodney needed to be at the church by 11am. Sure, I could’ve driven myself but that would’ve wasted gas. It was nice to be welcome to hang out, watch as people got ready, pictures were taken, and children drive their parents near the edge of insanity trying to keep their child’s hair in place, dresses clean, etc. The only pre-wedding issue I experienced were a set of dead batteries in my camera. This was disappointing because I’d just taken them off the charger before putting them in the camera that morning. More so it bothered me because I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to find another pair of batteries as the wedding was in Park, KS, population 151. There literally isn’t much of anything to find there with the exception of a deli, a bar & grill, a gas station, and the Catholic church. Luck was on my side and the gas station had some batteries at a ridiculous convenient price. Also, while waiting I was able to monitor and provide updates on the day’s basketball game between KU and Boston College. (They won 85-60.)

The wedding was followed by a reception at the Legion Hall in neighboring Grainfield, KS, population 313. The hall was decorated nicely with the couple’s colors of Bud Light blue and Silver. Arriving at the hall guests were entertained by a photo montage playing on a gigantic screen. It was interesting to see a collection of photos representing their lives from infancy to present. I was pleasantly surprised to see that several of my photos that I’ve taken through the years I’ve known them were included. The wedding party arrived shortly after and things began to get underway.

Dinner was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! Now, I’m sure countless people would say I was crazy, but in comparison to all of the sit down dinners I’ve had at wedding this was far and above better. It was a very homestyle buffet meal and definitely qualified as comfort food. After having partaken of nearly a dozen bourbon and Pepsi cocktails, it was a welcome way to soak up some of the alcohol. Suffice to say the bartenders, Kevin & Tyler, were more than generous with the liquor. You might even think they’d been instructed to conserve the soft drinks. The meal, however, was anything but more than ample portions.

Dinner consisted of barbecue beef (the bride’s family owns a feed yard), buttered sweet corn, cheesy potatoes twice baked potatoes, an oriental styled cabbage salad, and homemade beer bread with butter. Dessert was wedding cake (white with a frosting that hinted of lemon), homemade mints, mixed nuts, and a lime punch. The most talked about part of the meal was without question the beer bread. I’ve been told that the recipe will be shared once the couple returns from their honeymoon. (I wait with baited breath!) There were monstrous amounts of food left over that were packaged and sent home. As bachelors, Rodney and I were amply supplied with enough for a week’s worth few meals. It’ll be like being at the wedding all week!

The evening proceeded with dancing; western style, polka, chicken, dollar, swing and other styles. It was hilarious to watch the various toddlers dance their night’s away. I sometimes wonder what it’d be like to still have that amount of energy but then I sometimes think not. Rodney and I didn’t get home till nearly 1am both extremely exhausted. Not because either were intoxicated but simply because of the long day of activities, celebration, and plain ol’ fashioned fun! As I was gently reminded at 9am this morning we had to get ready for Mass, I remember answering “How did [I] sleep” with “Like the death. <yawn>”

I don’t think the entire day could’ve gone any better in the minds of anyone to whom I spoke. Well, perhaps some of the parents would’ve appreciated nap time for themselves their children. Batteries not failing even before the ceremony began might’ve been nice but then I’d not have had the chance to visit Park Oil Company. Just another memory to catalog. I didn’t take nearly enough photos but hopefully as time passes we’ll find that each of us were the subject of someone else’s lens at an embarrassing memorable moment in time.

There’s only one question left… So when are you having a baby?

I have no idea what happened, but after creating the recipe post last evening the site was unreachable, unavailable, blank.  It was as if the lights were on but no one was home.  I think it may have been a conflict between K2 and the Google Analyticator plugin.  I’m still not certain but that’s my best guess using the limited information I’ve been able to glean from the WordPress support forums.  I’ve removed the conflicting pluginin and hopefully that’s solved the problem.  Time will tell.  After I click this button we’ll see if it actually works again or crashes.  (fingers crossed)