Fran and Diane

Denise and I went to see Fran Kentling and Diane Lewis Monday night at Fran's lovely College Hill home, to have wine and hors d'oueveres. Fran and Diane are two of the hippest and swing-y-est (??) people I know. They are always traveling to exotic places, and they always eat the best food and drink the best wines. We don't see them often enough, but we are resolved to change that.

For those who don't know, Fran and Diane worked at the Eagle for many years before retiring in 2001, but we barely even mentioned the Eagle on Monday night. It was bliss.

Here is a photo of Denise and the girls.

More good news about Fran: her son Christian had twin girls six months ago, Regan and Riley. And Diane has adopted a shelter cat into her home. Named Callie, for the calico that she is.

Family affairs

My youngest sister, Linda, and her son, Dylan, who is 13 going on 20, are coming tomorrow for a short visit to go back-to-school shopping. Linda is a dog lover, and dogs have always liked her. Barney is in her lap, and Linda's dog, Comet, a beautiful mixed breed, is behind her, crawling all over the furniture. In our house, that's permitted.

I'll take photos while they're here, so that I can share a recent photo of Dylan. Know ya'll can't wait....

Wild about Harry?

Not exactly wild, but I was interested enough in the newest and final installment in the Harry Potter series that I spent most of my weekend finishing it, which is why I have deprived blogland of my insightful musings for so long. Before this, I had read only the first book in the series. Saw bits and pieces of two or three of the subsequent movies when they showed up on TV. Overall, I like the series and the story quite a bit and can see why kids were enchanted. I would have liked to have grown up with such a story to follow for 10 years. Oh well, I guess I had "Dallas."

They grow up so fast....

Meet Sophie and Jack. I remember like it was yesterday helping to take them home from the hospital and placing them in their crib side by side. Now they are 8. I may not be one of their parents, but I remember many challenging times in the early years, especially how we pretty much NEVER went out with our best friends Marty and Matt, the parents of these amazing twins. Our socializing consisted of dinners at home, followed by red wine and, for the kids, lots of mother's milk. Now they are 8. Too weird.

And here is one of my favorite pics with the kids. They were 7. Barney is lunging toward the birthday cake on the table. We were celebrating my 49th.

Best sign in Kansas?

Denise Neil pointed out this sign as we were driving through Pratt on our way to Greensburg earlier this week. What a throwback to another era, yet the Servateria keeps on serving in this charming little town. Here's a challenge to all you bloggers out there -- try to beat this as the best sign in Kansas. I'm not sure it can be done. Travis, I especially challenge you, since you travel all over the state. Another challenge -- who's up for a road trip for breakfast at Donald's?

Happy trails, Jilly

Our friend and fellow journalist and book club member Jill Chittum is leaving the fold, moving to the Kansas City area to teach high school journalism in the Blue Valley school district. Jill is a dedicated and principled teacher and journalist, which means she is destined for a lifetime of frustration and bitterness. (Just kidding, Jill.) I have been remiss in not linking to Jill's blog; she's among the first of our group to start a personal blog and motivated several others to do so. Plus, her blog is hip and informative, so be sure to check it out. We'll be following your life's adventures, Jill. As they say in the blogging world, keep us posted.

In da (book) club

Our monthly book club met at the home of Kathryn Welch Wednesday night. Here, Jaime and Denise are dancing a jig as punishment for not having cracked open the book. I forget the name of the book, because I also didn't read it. Hey, at least I have the excuse that I'm reading "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" right now. It will be nominated in about three years, once it comes out in paperbook. I'm hosting book club next month, so ya'll come, ya hear?

Here are a couple more photos from book club:

Kathryn, with her daughter, Lauryn.

Amy Devault, with her son Kyle.

Drum corps geek

For the uninitiated, it's hard to explain the appeal of drum corps. For me, though, it goes back to hot summers in Great Bend watching the world-champions Great Bend Argonne Rebels practicing every night at the high school football field. My friends and I were groupies, I guess. One of my best friends marched with the corps, and there were plenty of tanned, handsome and usually shirtless boys in the drum line who we loved to ogle.

I'm not really a geek today. I don't buy the DVDs, and I don't follow the progress of the various corps through their season, although I did attend the national championships two years ago in Denver with my sister. And every summer I attend the Drum Corps show at Cessna Stadium. In the photo above, the Troopers are on the field Tuesday night. For me, not a bad way to spend a summer evening 30 years post-high school.

The Trip to Greensburg

Denise Neil and I went to tornado-ravaged Greensburg on assignment Monday. Well, Denise went on an assignment, I just tagged along with the kind permission of my managing editor.

Of course, I took a lot of photos, but here are just a few until I have more time to post them.

The Kiowa County Courthouse, which is closed and surrounded by something you see a LOT of in Greensburg, damaged trees. To the left is the yellow striped tent they used for City Council meetings, and the red-striped FEMA tent.



The temporary hospital, looking like MASH units.


One of the thousands of stricken trees.


The Virgin Mary in a pile of rubble.

You have to look hard, but this is a standing of sunflowers growing out of the basement of a leveled home. Sunflowers are growing in abundance throughout the town.

Damaged home. Yellow journalism? No, just a hard-working journalist in a yellow tent.

More later....

Pasta and poker

What a great combination. On Saturday night, Denise and Nick had a poker party preceded by a fabulous dinner. Denise made spaghetti Carbonara with her famous tomato-basil bruschetta. I contributed a garden salad using tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers from Dale's garden, along with a choice of homemade blue cheese dressing or balsamic vinaigrette. Sorry I didn't get a shot of the food before we plowed into it. Above, we're mostly done and ready to move onto cards.

Here are a few pics:

Mike McMilliin, shown here betting. What a surprise. The McMillins never met a hand they didn't like. (Denise has on a new dress that she bought for $5 at the Gap.) To her right is Leroy Leep, a golfing buddy of Dale's and friend to all. His wife Tina usually plays with us but had other plans this night.

Nick, Molly and Dale, who doesn't look too happy here. However, the night got a lot better for him as it wore on.
Dale, Carrie (no doubt contemplating one of her "I'll bet the pot" moves) and Leroy.

Wondering what has provoked this rather unladylike pose? Hmmm... do you see any poker chips in front of our hostess????


Dale is started to look a little happier now. He was the evening's big winner, coming out about $65 ahead.

For every winner, however, there are several losers at the table. Here, some players who shall remain unnamed began throwing in what little they had left to their names.


The bad part about being the blogger and the chief photographer for the evening is that there are no photos of ME : (
I wouldn't want to deprive anyone, so here's a pic taken last week of me and my mom.

The Bonnie Bash

Here is our Fairy Tale Princess and hubby Dick at Thursday night's roast in Bonnie's honor. Ms. Bonnie Bing was feted by more than 400 people at the stately Scottish Rite Center for all the laudable work and good deeds she has done over the years. She looked beautiful, and regally presided over her party.

Here we are pictured together. Oh, what I wouldn't give for those cheek bones, Bon...

And, as promised, here are more photos from the big bash Thursday night

A very handsome couple, Maria and Dan Loving.

Brian and Joanna Corn were lovely dinner companions.

Diane McCartney and her husband, Kerry, are the beach-hopping-est duo you'll ever meet.

Sexy Denise Neil and her handsome husband Nick Jungman.

An always mod and youthful Molly McMillin.

I would have liked to have known Ms. Theresa (Tess) Johnson in the '70s.





Bad boy Joe Stumpe.

Van and Christy Williams, always a dashing couple at any event.


Did anyone ever doubt who was IN CHARGE of this magnificent affair? Ms. Carrie Rengers, of course, shown here conferring with friend and helper David Kammerer.

Me with best gal pal Marty Goltl. You can't see it here, but she was slinky in her turquoise-colored and sequin-y skirt.

One more snap of charming Dick and the belle of the ball, Bonnie Bing. And, now, I give you this parting shot:

Yes, many women would kill for those legs. Bucky Walters gives us an indelible image of our Fairy Tale Princess.

Thanks, Bonnie, for a memorable evening.

Barney, doing what he loves

Denise isn't the only one whose pup is cute when he's sleeping. Here, Barney catches some zzzzz in the guest bedroom on Dale's pillow, which he had thrown on the bed after returning home from his family reunion. (He takes his own pillow and blankey on the road with him....)

Home Sweet Home

Dale just returned from a four-day trip to his home state of North Dakota for a family reunion, which included his three sisters (two shown here, at left) and his niece and nephew. Of course, no visit to the old homestead would be complete without a trip to the quaint New Hope Cemetery, where Dale's parents, Bill and Esther, are buried.

Dale has always been out standing in his field. Actually, he is standing at the site of the sod house that up until 1914 was the home and birthplace of his father. That is near Woodworth, N.D., in the New Home settlement.

Here, Dale is visiting with his godmother (sniff), Selma Leapaldt. She is an incredibly youthful 83. Must be that wholesome North Dakota air.

Family affair

Here we are, getting ready for our big night on the town. Or, the alternative, going to Music Theatre of Wichita's "White Christmas." Here, my mother is "fluffling" up my sister Lisa's hair. My sis is fighting Parkinson's disease, and currently weighs about 115 pounds, at 5 feet 8 inches tall. But don't feel too sorry for her. She loves to lord it over me. And, she looks fabulous. You know what they say, you can never be too thin. Here's one more pic:

Company's coming

My mother, Mary, and sister Lisa are visiting this weekend. Tonight, after a meal of chicken salad with tarragon, roasted tomato soup and cucumber salad (and a nice red wine), we plan to see "White Christmas" at Music Theatre of Wichita. This is my mom, at a bed and breakfast we stayed at in Bonner Springs last year while visiting my niece, Ashley. I don't have a digital image of my sister handy, but I'll get one today with my (new) camera and post tomorrow. I know ya'll can't wait.