polo shirts don't die; they just look outdated

Polo shirts - is that what they are called? The shirts that are cotton knit with a couple of buttons and a collar that were popular in the '80's by Ralph Lauren. I call them all Polo shirts.

The shirt itself has a very long shelf life. I have a black one in my closet that is a least 5 years old and it is holding well. I believe the style and cut of the shirts is probably an American classic and will never go out of style - like jeans.

I have been thinking about Polo shirts lately due to the fact that my neighbor at work has been wearing one about every day this summer. The guy who sits next to me is in his early 50's and given the fact that these shirts won't die, he has a lot of Polo shirts. He has solids, stripes, the two toned collar and sleeves with the rest of the shirt, and of coarse logos or sponsers of companies or golf tournaments.

I can almost guess the year of the shirt by its colors. The burgandy, forest, and navy scheme just screams '92-'95. He has some shirts that hurt my eyes - the bright orange, green, yellow, and blue - I should ask him to take the batteries out. Should I tell him the mustard colors don't look good with his bald head? It is not all bad, he has some new shirts that look real slick.

I am disappointed that I haven't seen the famous 4 tone Structure shirt. The one divided into quadrants of red, blue, green, orange or any other combo. Maybe, one of these days when he is feeling frisky.

A Weekend of Work

Our family room was an add-on during the 70’s. When we first moved into our house 8 years ago, the family room had that ski lodge / game room feel to it- dark wood paneling and decorative dark wooden beams on the ceiling. Not long after we moved in, we painted the paneling a nice warm gray. But the beams finally got to Vernal- she wanted them down. There were four of them and the last one came down on Saturday. I pulled out a CD (Dido-Life for Rent) and realized we got that CD the day the first beam came down. It was my background music and the back of the CD was dated 2003.

I’M SORRY THAT IT TOOK SO LONG!

It was a chore though. All those nails were sunk into the wood and I had to chip away at the beam to try to get the nails. Each end had 6 nails and then there were another 6 spread along the length of the beam. Pulling down the first beam was more of an exploratory mission to see what the ceiling looked like on top of the beam. It was gyp board, so we could pull them down and paint the ceiling. The other two beams came down one Saturday a couple of months ago. I found that if I get the nails completely out at one end of the beam and pull from that end, the beam will come loose from the ceiling except for the other end that is still nailed into the wall- then you just twist and pull it. This process takes about an hour as compared to what seemed like 4 hours for the first beam. Although, I quickly learned that by pulling down on the beam it is a good idea to have a hard hat on, because the first time I tried that technique I ended up with a pretty big lump on my head.

So this weekend, I took down the last beam and Vernal patched the nail holes in the ceiling and walls. We also just recently had a new sliding glass door installed to replace our old broken door. The wood trim on the inside was unfinished, so I stained and sealed the door to match the existing trim inside that room. Vernal also put up and rearranged some pictures of Goose and Turkey along with a new wall candle thing from pottery barn that she got for Christmas. All of this was put over the piano (thanks Darwin and Roamer.)

We still have work to finish with the ceiling and the crown molding. Maybe next weekend we can Git-R-Done!

I also did not have to prepare a Sunday School lesson and managed to watch two videos (Friday Night Lights and After the Sunset.)

Philadelphia Part 3

Did I mention that I love the music of The Innocence Mission?

So, Tuesday morning I had my meeting a 1o and got out of their by noon. We headed back towards Philadelphia. Our flight takes off 6:3o so we had some time to kill.
L U N C H !! (But where?)
Downtown of coarse!
You really can't say you have seen a city unless you visit the heart of it and get a feel of it's life. All of downtown is surrounded by neighborhoods that go on and on. The blocks are lined with 3 story townhomes like a workingmans brownstone but made of brick- tall and skinny. I don't know if neighborhood is the right word, because everything is intergrated -residential, commercial, dining, and office plus the sought after steak joints.
I guess the word I am looking for is edge. Between the edge of the river and the edge of the major interstate it is dense and there aren't any breaks. Those two edges are far apart. The major streets are a small 3 lane at best (one way with parking on one side and two lanes for traffic.) The minor streets are two lanes wit one for parking, maybe an 8 foot sidewalk and then the 3 story town homes (really close to the street.) The streets have a nice human aspect to them. Every thing is at the human scale - small streets, sidewalks, trees, bricks, 3 story buildings - it creates a nice outdoor corridor to walk through.

We parked near city hall - a very old building broken into quadrants with a center courtyard and a bell tower at one end. The street was bustling. This is a big time city, very urban. Shops and eateries, with people all over the place. I would have loved to explore more than an hour or so that we had. I didn't get to look at any of the historical stuff - maybe next time.

It is definately a place I'd go back to!

Philadelphia Part 2

Did I mention that I had a great cheese steak sandwich?

After spending some time looking at issues around the site for our project, it was time to eat. We asked the local guy with us, if he had any recommendations - "Yeah, the Outback down the street is really good. There is also a Carraba's."

We then took a two hour drive to the state capitol in Harrisburg. The landscape was hilly with lots of trees like the Ozarks, but the green seemed darker and the turnpike was not curvy. Some portions of the drive are through a wall of trees on each side. As pretty as that can be, I felt a little clausterphobic without the ability to see what's on the horizon at 180 degrees.

The farms had and old and different vernacular than the Kansas farms. The farmer still held onto the romantic idea that barns should be red and farmhouses should be white.

I see the Amish "horse and buggy" signs on the road, but unfortunately didn't pass any. We are driving through the Dutch Amish country. The whole Amish thing facinates me. Could I live like that?

I see signs that point the direction to Lancaster and I say a prayer and thank God for the music of The Innocence Mission. They are a husband/wife folk-pop group that write some of the most beautiful songs about innocence, sadness, hope, Christ, love, loss, joy, weather, family, and kids with a good dose of Catholic imagery. I can't say enough about how much I love this band. I listened to two of their albums (Glow and Befriended) on this trip to soak up the landscape and the imagery that I hear in their music. If I was by myself, I would have taken a detour into Lancaster and if I should happen upon their house, I might find myself knocking. They feel like old friends.

Tomorrow On The Runway by the innocence mission
www.theinnocencemission.com

Old days, don't come to find me,
the sun is just about to climb up over there.
'While my heart is sinking I do not want my voice
to go out into the air'.
Did you leave the darkness without me?
You're always miles ahead.
And you're standing in tomorrow on the runway.

Oh be the music in my head,
the air around my bed, oh be my rest.
Replace the small disgraces of
the times and places that I never really left.
Did you leave the darkness without me?
You're always miles ahead.
And you're standing in tomorrow on the runway.

Oh I want to fly, fly forward into the light,
be alive, to come alive,
on the leaf-bright Friday drive,
sudden horses at the red light,
turn around, see clearer ways to go now.

(Sidenote: I did the same thing when I was in Ohio. I listened to the music of Over the Rhine from Cinncinati on my ipod to pay homage to the state that produce another wonderful husband/wife folk-sy/pop/rock band.) www.overtherhine.com

Philadelphia Part 1

just got back las' night; left Monday morning.

My major objectives on a personal level was to eat an authentic cheese steak sandwich and to get a feel for the city.

My other objectives on a professional level was to meet the contractor and engineering consultants at our site to look through the existing building and then meet the plan reviewer from the Department of Health in Harrisburg (the state capital) for a 10am meeting Tuesday.

I did some research on the cheese steak. I watched this documentary called the GREAT CHEESE STEAK DEBATE about Philly steaks. The main debate between the locals was between Pat's Steaks (the originator of the steak, but dirty old joint), Geno's Steaks (across the street from Pat's, much cleaner, more flashy), and Jim's Steaks (located near the freaks.) Honestly, they looked good and made good points why they are the best. I would have loved to try all...but for this trip I'll start with the supposed original Pat's since 1930.

Another part of the debate is on the type of cheese to put on your sandwich. The choices are Provolone, American, and cheez whiz. Cheez Whiz comes in a can and is the consistancy to ball park nacho cheese. I like provolone, but I was conviced to get the right experience, cheez whiz was the way to go.

I checked out their website before I left: www.patskingofsteaks.com They have pictures and instructions on how to order a steak:

"How to order a Steak"
by I. M. Hungry

Step 1.
Specify if you want your steak with (wit) or without (wit-out) onions.
{if you're not a rookie this should come naturally}
Step 2.
Specify Plain, Cheez Whiz, Provolone, American Cheese or a Pizza Steak.
{we have lettuce and tomatoes / { if we have to read your mind it's 50 cents extra}
Step 3.
Have your money ready.
{do all of your borrowing in line}
Step 4.
Practice all of the above while waiting in line.
{if you make a mistake, don't panic, just go to the back of the line and start over}

I am in line and all I can think of is the Seinfeld Soup Nazi. I almost forgot the lingo, he asked me "onions" and I said"yeah, with onions" and he corrected me and said "Wit." After I had my sandwich I almost made a rookie mistake. I sat down at one of the tables (they are all outdoor) and I got up to get some napkins as the guy I was with wasn't at the table yet. I left my steak on the table and he said a pigeon almost got it before he got to the table. NEVER LEAVE YOUR CHEESE STEAK UNATTENDED!!!

Oh man, oh man, oh man! Was it good! Fresh Italian bread...thinly sliced rib-eye steak, juicey and seasoned to perfection, grilled onions and cheez whiz. Yum!

It is all street parking and with Geno's (www.genosteaks.com) across from Pat's, it is tough to find a spot close. Our table was close to a street intersection where parking is not aloud and some guy pulls his car up to the corner of the intersection, leaves his car on, gets in line. I loved the attitude and the confidence. He was a working class toughie, Italian looking, short, muscular with tattoes all over his arms, cut off shirt, jeans and boots, but he must have his steak-now!

You Gotta Start Sometime...get on at the Zoo Station

I have been enjoying my late summer night walks.

(Just me, the beagle, the ipod and the Holy Ghost.) It gives me a chance to let the music set fire to my imagination the way it once did as a youth.

Very rarely do I have the time to sit down and listen to an album. I listen to music all the time, but not the way I did as a youth. So, I find myself (my self) on these walks taking longer routes just so I can “finish the chapter.”

I have been listening to U2’s Achtung Baby quite a bit in the last week. The opening song is Zoo Station and it has been stirring my soul for the last couple of weeks. I just need more of that song. It seems to be about courage and trust and letting go. I have been thinking a lot about those topics lately with the new challenges in my job, dreams to pursue, and the departure of good friends.

Darwin and Roamer, I can’t imagine how hard these last couple of years has been and of what is to come; this is for you:

I'm ready, I'm ready for laughing gas
I'm ready, I'm ready for what's next.
I'm ready to duck, ready to dive
Ready to say I'm glad to be alive
I'm ready, I'm ready for the push.

In the cool of the night, in the warmth of the breeze
I'll be crawling around on my hands and knees.
She's just down the line, Zoo Station.
Got to make it on time, Zoo Station.

I'm ready, I'm ready for the gridlock
I'm ready to take it to the street.
Ready for the shuffle, ready for the deal
Ready to let go of the steering wheel.
I'm ready, ready for the crush.

Zoo Station.

Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
Hey baby, hey baby, hey baby, hey baby,
It's alright, it's alright.

Time is a train makes the future the past
Leaves you standing in the station
Your face pressed up against the glass.

I'm just down the line from your love...Zoo Station
I'm under the sign of your love... Zoo Station
I'm gonna be there... Zoo Station
Tracing the line... Zoo Station
I'm gonna make it on time, make it on time ... Zoo Station

Just two stops down the line... Zoo Station
Just a stop down the line... Zoo Station

I Love Your Hair

Excuse me Miss I don’t mean to stare
But I really have to tell you that I love your hair
So you show up few minutes late
We don’t notice because your hair looks great
Yesterday different from today it shows
You really know how to accentuate your clothes

Excuse me Sir I don’t mean to dis’
But your hair is usually hit or miss
Showed up late someone said
“Did this joke just roll out of bed?”
It once looked good but has now lost its strut
Please call your stylist you need a fresh cut

what's happening?

In the last couple of weeks:

• Turkey (6 mo.) went from rocking on all fours to crawling. I think it was more of an act of desperation to follow mom.
  
• I was swinging Turkey in our backyard tree swing and the higherI pushed him the more he would giggle. Then suddenly he looked up and stared at the sky. It caught his attention; he was no longer giggling, but was awestuck as he was gliding back and forth on the swing. It reminded me of the song by THE CHOIR Wide Eyed Wonder. The lyrics are something like: wide-eyed wonder girl looking up to the sky and wondering why, it's a good great world???? It has been a while since I listened to that tape (I don't have it on cd). I wish I could remember the words and I can't find them online. It was written about his new daughter and innoncence in the world. (Something like that)
  
• Goose (2 1/2 yr) went from tricycle to bicycle. Vernal found a little guys bike at a garage sale with training wheels. So Goose has been learning his coordination of pedaling siting up.
• I have been practicing patience on waiting for the new Coldplay album. It has been out in the stores for over a week, but fathers day is coming.
• We had a new kitchen window and sliding glass door installed.
• I ran into 3 church people at Hy-vee. Luckily, I had only icecream and ROOT beer in my cart for we were going to have root beer floats. I would hate for gossip to start - not really!

That's all for now.

the other side of the fence

There is a guy in my office that is just starting to take his Architectural Registration Exams (A.R.E).
I just passed mine last year and that means that I am now a real professional architect.

It feels good to be on the other side of the fence.

My friend was nervous about his first test, studying long and hard.
Asking me all sorts of questions about the test and I was giving him all kinds of advice.

It feels good to be on the other side of the fence.

After he took his test, he worried for a few weeks while waiting for the results.
Replaying questions in his mind and second guessing some his answers.
He would watch the mail with daily anticipation.

It feels good to be on the other side of the fence.

Yesterday, he slapped the results in front of my face and I said “you passed!”
He ran around the office with a big grin stuck on his face.

It feels good to be on the other side of the fence.

His next test is scheduled and the studying has begun again.
One test down, eight to go!

It feels good to be on the other side of the fence.

Long-Winded Prayers

I was at my grandparent’s church over Memorial Day weekend. They do a big patriotic service every Memorial weekend. We got to sing the old battle hymns and the God Bless America type songs. We pledged our allegiance to the flag (both flags-thank goodness for the words on the overhead.) Then we had the honor to have one of their high ranking servicemen say a prayer of blessing for our country.

His prayer was long-winded and after about 30 seconds, I looked around and noticed the behavior that is typical during these wordy prayers:

• THE AEROBIC TWIST – The teenage girl in front of me was doing this. The legs are firmly planted but the upper body is twisting back and forth – to the left, to the right, to the left, to the right. This action is the most distracting and probably the silliest looking, because there is a lot of movement.

• THE TWO-STEP – For some of these old women this is the closest they come to dancing. This action is the rhythmic shift of weight from their left foot to their right foot and back and forth….dancing with Jesus!!!

• HEELS TO TOES – This is mostly a man movement, because we are not as sensual as the women. This is the rocking back and forth movement that is caused by the shift of body weight from the heels to the toes. If the prayer is really hitting a spiritual high note the movement will often be accentuated by a “heel to toes to TIP TOES.” The burst of energy to elevate your body an extra 4 inches is a physical gesture of an “AMEN!!!!”

• THE MOANERS – They are loud and they are in pain with agreement to every word of the prayer. It hurts. AHH-MEN. YES, LOWERED. OH, GEE – SUSS. The old men are really good at this with their old raspy voices. The louder the MOANERS, the more encouraged the person praying gets. He is really hitting on something and becomes even more fervent in his prayer. They are the cause for some of the really long prayers. They feed off of each others energy.

• THE MIND WANDERERS – This is the worst of the lot. They loose interest and can’t focus on the prayer and start looking around at other people. Watching other peoples strange behavior while there’s goes unnoticed. Many times they take notice of the floral pattern on the back of old sister Smiths dress. The flowers don’t match up on the other side of the zipper. The zipper has come down about ½” from the top of the back. Etc.
  

I am sure there are more quirky behaviors, but that is all I noticed in about 5 minutes.

Memorial Day Weekend

A quick breakdown of our Memorial Day weekend:

I took Friday off from work to have a four day weekend. We left Thursday after I got home from work and headed south on 71 to Belle Vista, Arkansas. We were visiting my Grandparents, but they were more interested in being Great-Grandparents with their two Great-Grandsons.

Thursday – Arrive in Belle Vista a little after 10 pm. Goose runs into their house screaming “happy birthday Great-Grandma.” Both Great-Grandparents gush over the boys and are surprised how big they have gotten in six months. They get a kick out of Goose vocabulary and curiosity and Turkey’s near crawling ability.

Friday – After breakfast, jump in the car and take the windy road to Silver Dollar City. (Steel your dollar city.) It is about a two hour drive – past Pea Ridge Civil War Battlefield, through Roaring River State Park, and then over Table Rock Lake. We did Silver Dollar mainly for Goose, meaning no adult rides for us. It was still fun; he got to ride the train and curse at the bank robber, play with the balls, and the many playground set-ups. We left after the two year old had as much as he could take without a nap and without driving us too crazy. We didn’t even pull out of the park and he was asleep - a moment of peace for us.

Saturday – A slow moving morning for us. We put Turkey down for a nap and left him with the Great-Grandparents. The rest of us went to hike/walk a favorite trail of ours nearby. We followed the path up to the waterfalls. We took our shoes off at the top of the falls and waded in the water barefoot. Goose didn’t care too much for the mossy covered rocks under his feet. It was slimy! He did however, enjoy throwing rocks into the creek. We walked down the falls and off the beaten path along the creek and at one point had to cross over to catch up with the trail. Some stepping stones kept our shoes dry. We took a few more stops along the creek for goose to throw more rocks and for me to practice my rock skipping skills. The finally is at the end of the trail crossing over the creek on a suspension bridge, which is always fun to jump on in the middle.

After lunch, we realized that Goose wasn’t going to take a nap so we jumped in the car. Our goal was to head to a Bruams for some ice cream. Again, Goose and Turkey fell asleep in the car. Vernal got out the state map and we decided to head to Beaver Lake and let them sleep. By the time he woke up, we found a nice little rocky beach. Other people were out enjoying the weather and were riding their sea doo's. This time Goose had on his sport sandals, so he and Vernal waded along the beach. We got our Bruams on the way back.

Sunday – Wake-up, breakfast, go to church, lunch, pack-up, go home, relax!

june first

---------------
June 1st 1996

9 years

I love you
--------------