GA update

Hola, party people! I hope you're all enjoying a lovely Memorial Day weekend. I enjoyed reading Honor's narrative on her and Doug's Saturday in Ellsworth, and since I hadn't written for awhile, and I thought I'd share a quick update too ...

Trent's been spending long hours at work due to several lengthy rain delays during Braves games. The rain is good (keeps the grass green, while the house is on the market) ...


Look! There he is at the game on Friday night, pulling the tarp. Isn't he cute!

As for me, summer school has begun, and I'm loving it! I'm teaching our 6-credit hour Principles of Writing Instruction course, and my students are fabulous. I'm also advising for the program.

I also received word from Wichita State's Provost that my contract will go through, so it's pretty darn official that we'll be heading back to Kansas ... though possibly not at the same time, if the house doesn't sell soon. :-( We've got two months until I need to move, and we're just trying to enjoy our home as much as possible. It beats living in an extended stay motel (which is what we would be doing, if it had sold right away). So far, we've just had one showing and one open house (where the only people who showed up were some neighbors and one interested real estate agent). Oh well.

I also received word on Friday that one of my articles has been accepted for publication in a fall issue of a refereed journal in my field. That, along with a book chapter that should come out in December, will be a good start to my research career at WSU. Yay!

In other news, Trent and I will be competing in a sprint triathlon in Newnan, GA, next Saturday. (600m swim - 15 mile bike - 5K run). I'm really excited about it, after training more seriously for this race than any other previous tri's, and Trent is excited too, even though he hasn't been able to devote as much time to training with the Braves season in full swing. We'll let you know how it goes. :-)

Happy Memorial Day weekend, Fiddler Kin. Love to you all!

Ellsworth News

Doug and I spent Saturday in Ellsworth, Kansas. The aunts (including me) hosted a wedding shower for a nephew and his bride-to-be. We met the bride's family and they are very nice, charming people. They are originally from Larned, Kansas, but most of them live in Lawrence now. Both the bride and groom are KU graduates; although the bride went to Fort Hays State her freshman year.

The bride is pretty. She also has a good head on her shoulders. She is not allowing the wedding plans to get out of hand. The wedding will be small and within budget. I admire people who can be realistic about their plans.

We had lots of good food. An uncle cooked hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. We ate watermelon, fruit salads, vegetable salads, cookies, candies and cake. Everyone was in a convivial mood. The day was sunny. The conversation was good. Several married cousins are pregnant, so we talked about a wedding in August and the number of babies who will be born.

Grandma Betty (Bestamore) is clearly enjoying the growth of the family. She said she is crocheting baby quilts as fast as she can.

We also talked about travel plans. One couple will fly to Mexico in early July. Another couple is going on an Alaskan cruise in August. Doug and I talked about spending time with family in Kansas City.

The couple received some nice gifts, including homemade ones. They appeared delighted with their presents. One that caught my eye was a grilling basket used to grill vegetables or shrimp. One grandmother gave a beautiful crocheted blanket and some embroidered dish towels. Betty gave a crocheted doily. The skill and workmanship involved with those items was obvious. Clearly, this couple is deeply loved.

Doug and I visited with our son Thomas. He was in Ellsworth to attend both a class reunion and a wedding shower. It was good to see him. Saturday was a beautiful day for a get together. But there was a shadow hanging over the party.

At 3:00 am, on Saturday morning, Terry's Pharmacy was robbed. The thieves threw a rock through a window and entered the store; even though an alarm sounded. The thieves stole about five hundred dollars worth of prescription drugs before they fled. The drugs are worth much more than that on the street. Two men were seen running to a car parked in a Dollar General parking lot. Dollar General is about a block east of Seitz Drug, Terry's pharmacy. Agnes told me that other small town pharmacies in the area have also recently been robbed. So the Ellsworth robbery is part of a crime spree.

To compound the matter, a few weeks ago someone broke into the Terry Kepka home and burgled it while he and Agnes were out of town. The police think the items taken were to be sold to buy drugs.

Terry and Agnes are feeling much more vulnerable these days. I think it is safe to say they feel violated in some way. The nice thing is, that even though their day was marred by an early morning robbery, they still graciously hosted the shower at their home. The police called Terry and Agnes a little after 3:00 am, and that is what time their day began. Still, they smiled and joked with all the guests and gave them a warm welcome.

The party began about noon and ended about five o'clock. But the festivities did not end then. Some of us went to 5:30 Mass and then returned to Terry and Ag's to eat Mexican food. Doug and I left Ellsworth at around 7:30. Saturday was a long day, especially for Terry and Agnes.

We said good bye to Thomas, who was planning on staying with Terry and Ag another night. He arrived in Ellsworth on Friday so that he could get together with some of his high school friends. Tom is heading home some time today (Sunday).

We are looking forward to our trip to Kansas City and to our reunion with our cousins. Isn't it great to belong to a family. No matter what happens, good or bad, family is there to support and encourage one another. God bless the Kepkas. God bless all my Fiddler Kin.

Another Thought

A vocation is what we are called to become no matter what work we do.

here's a thought

Amateurs built the ark, professionals built the titanic


Never under estimate what you can do.

The Price of Efficiency.....or...sometimes it is better to call in sick.

Thursday morning is usually my time to do as I please...I could sleep in or head to the gym for an invigorating workout.....but instead, I usually run errands like a mad woman. Today I high tail it around accomplishing all sorts of minor household miracles and duties with the efficiency of a bee buzzing around a crab apple tree in full bloom.

I rose at 6:30 am and arranged myself in a presentable way to be out in the public. First stop, a hair cut at 7:30 am!! Carl meets me at the crack of hair dresser dawn to trim and shape my bristly mop. Then off to Price Chopper for chef's salad fixin's...lunch will be taken to Cottonwood Falls on Saturday and shared with Peggy at the nursing home. I like to get the veggies early and prep them for easy assembly tableside.

Then off to see Dr. Ying for a full eye exam...complete with dilated pupils. I look like a belladonna addict by the time I leave there.

A quick trip home to change clothes.....work will be fitted in eventually. Two long distance phone calls set the stage for future adventures.

Downtown Overland Park beckons. The Clock Tower Bakery has wonderful cinnamon rolls and scones....a cup of coffe perks me up as I quickly nibble a crumbly delicacy.

Then off to Ten Thousand Villages to look for gifts for our third year Residents...they graduate in June and I like to be Ready!! A tour of the the hand crafted free trade stock yields a couple of affordable appropriate gifts....but time is running out....no time to pay. The clerk offers to hold the items until closing time at 8 pm.

I sail out of the store and head to the Quick Trip for a fill up.....10.3 gallons ...then off to work.
I arrive at noon and eat a semi-leisurely lunch before clocking in. The next several hours are busy....time flies.

I feel a little squeezed for time as I leave work at 7 pm. I catch a lot of green lights as I coast to my Waterloo......the stop just before my 8 pm deadline at Ten Thousand Villages.

The traffic light is green at 79th and Metcalf so I float around the corner at 15 miles per hour....accelerating as I straighten the wheels.....my mind completely focused on the cool purchases I will soon make at the trade store......but wait....what is that shining in my rear view mirror?

Yikes...it is one of Overland Park's finest flashing all of the lights the car possesses. I realize he is after me so I pull over....driving over the curbing as I swerve to a halt. As I watch the cute young officer approach I wonder if I will soon be doing a sobriety test along with handing over my drivers license.

I lower the window....and blurt out "I have to get to Ten Thousand Villages before they close!" He is not impressed with the importance of my errand. "Ma'am may I see your license and proof of insurance." After brief check of my credentials the patrolman thanks me for being courteous and hands me an $81 ticket for speeding (29 in a 20).

I head for my destination.......arriving before the store closes. One clerk shares a similar experience along that stretch of roadway....the other wants to know if the officer was wearing a wedding ring. I offer to research that for her....I can speed through that territory again I say, but better yet, why don't you try it your self.

By the time I arrive home, all errands completed, I realize that I would have been further ahead if had just called in sick today.

One clerk wants

Some days....

Some days it just does not pay to get out of bed. I had breakfast with a girlfriend at Perkins on Monday and while she was in the restroom a woman came up to my table with an Avon book, handed it to me and said "here is an Avon book, you look like you could really use it." I was so startled that I was speechless, but I wish I would have asked her, what she was implying.
Now she did continue around the restaurant passing out her "beauty book" so I wasn't singled out, but I am not sure she used the same inspiring selling tactic with the others.

So, some days.....

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and women in our family. You are beautiful, and I love you! I hope you're having a lovely, relaxing, and rejuvenating Sunday. I'm sending blessings to all of you.

House is on the market

Well, it's official. The house is listed.

After interviewing agents and spending about a week de-cluttering, painting the front porch and garage doors, staining the deck, and doing other things our realtor suggested, it's on the market. We're keeping our fingers crossed and trying to be patient.

Here's the virtual tour:
http://www.icatch360.com/slideshow.cfm?ad_id=18684

If you know anyone who wants to buy in GA, pass it along. Ha ha--if only it were that easy!

Love to you all!

Katie