http://www.pckarl.net/journal/ Pat & Cindy's Blog en Copyright 2009 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:00:03 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Here is a link to the trip report for our vacation in Germany and the Czech Republic.]]> http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000213.html http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000213.html Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:00:03 -0600 What a fun and busy week in Austin. Jonathan and Kayleigh are so interesting to be with; I get a real kick out of some of the things they say and do. Jonathan and I had an ongoing Monopoly game which he eventually won on Tuesday evening. We also had interesting early morning conversations when he would come in and cuddle. I went with Kayleigh as she rode her bike to the tot lot; she did a great job. We three went to Amy's for ice cream to celebrate Kayleigh's "big girl bedtime" routine. Kayleigh and I read lots of books; she is on the verge of learning to read. Elizabeth presented me with two lovely handmade books - one is a leather bound travel diary and the other an emerald green journal. I'm looking forward to using both of them. Friday aft. Matthew Scott dropped by Elizabeth's and it was great to see him for a little while. Dale got home early enough so Elizabeth and I could go for cocktails and appetizers and then to hear a "Saint Cecilia Music Series" concert which was excellent - combined choirs from two churches and a baroque orchestra performed early 18th century music. Sunday, the Rihas came over and we had a wonderful meal al fresco - salad, steak, potatoes, corn on the cob and good wine. Good company and good conversation. I had just finished reading a biography of "Churchill" which I had borrowed from Dale and we compared notes on the book. Monday we went to "Jerry's Artarama" which has so much neat stuff some of which I bought. We had just enough time to drop in to Williams Sonoma before picking up Kayleigh and I found some appetizer plates that I had been looking for. Under Elizabeth's direction, I made a bookmark with stamps, colored pencils and chalk - it looks quite nice and I'm using it now. The day I left, Elizabeth and I treated ourselves to a foot pedicure which felt great and looked great. Thanks to Elizabeth and Dale for a lovely week. http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000211.html http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000211.html Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:26:17 -0600 I bet your newspaper doesn't have exciting headlines like this! "Man accused of stabbing stepfather with broken toilet plunger..." http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000210.html http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000210.html Sat, 05 Apr 2008 10:21:41 -0600 Six years ago our food processor broke, apparently by some over-exuberant use at my surprise 60th b'day party. Pat fashioned some formica into a flat tool that allowed me to push the starter on the processor and continue to use the processor. Last week Pat decided to process some shellac (doesn't everyone?) and the blade got bent. The shellac turned out not to be much good either. But now we have a lovely new processor and all I have to do is push a button instead of pushing and jiggling the formica tool. My only regret is that every time I used the old processor a wonderful memory of my birthday party came back to me. http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000209.html http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000209.html Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:26:21 -0600 http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000208.html http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000208.html Sun, 16 Mar 2008 08:14:45 -0600 opera. There were a lot of laughs and the voices were great. Thanks to Leah for a lovely time and transporting me all over Chicago in the cold, cold weather.]]> http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000207.html http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000207.html Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:39:14 -0600 A well-known person who had sired an illegitimate child in his youth wrote the following advice to a young man who was concerned about doing the same thing - take only older women for mistresses because there is no hazard of children. Also, older women are wiser, better talkers, better at intrigue, and better at other things, too - every knack being by practice capable of improvement, not to mention they are so grateful! Let's hear it for older women - who do you think said it? http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000206.html http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000206.html Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:55:00 -0600 We're now satellite connected and wireless - wow!! Now anyone coming to visit can stick their wireless card in their computer and access our internet connection and anyone using our computers will notice a big difference in speed. It is so exciting to be able to download podcasts without waiting for 30 minutes and often being disconnected before the download was complete. Last week we had a big ice storm and it was beautiful to look at but not good for the trees. We have bunches of tree limbs in the yard which we will need to clean up when the weather is better. We were without electricity for 3 1/2 days - the first two days were kind of fun and interesting, by the third day it was annoying. It gets dark by 5:30 pm; we read for a few hours but were in bed by 8:30 or 9:00. We lit two of the burners on our stove and heated the den/kitchen pretty well by closing all of the other doors. It was really chilly when we went to the bathroom or to bed. I thought of the ancestors that lived in the stone house several times while the electricity was out and was glad I wasn't one of them! http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000205.html http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000205.html Tue, 18 Dec 2007 09:48:28 -0600 We have been playing Texas Holdem every evening since Kitty Lou has been here. KL has won the last three nights in a row! Pat was out first last night and after several hands Cynthia was getting low on chips. Cynthia had pocket queens on the deal and went cockily all in before the flop. KL just as cockily called and we laid our cards down - KL had pocket aces. She went on to win the hand and the game. I asked her if she prayed to win at Mass - she laughed and said no but thought that might be a good idea. http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000204.html http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000204.html Sun, 04 Nov 2007 09:22:17 -0600 "True North", a beautiful golf course. Larry gave me some golf pointers and all were very nice about my golf playing - as Pat said, I probably enjoyed the course the most because I got to hit the most strokes!! Another day we took the ferry to Mackinac Island which was delightful. On Thursday we drove to Chicago to visit Leah. Leah's newly renovated co-op apartment is beautiful - what a good and big job she did. The kitchen is lovely and the uncovered hardwood floors look great. Pat and I went to the Field Museum on Friday and really enjoyed it. The exhibit on "The Evolving Planet" was very well done. A great meal in the evening at "Wildfire" and then home on Saturday.]]> http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000203.html http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000203.html Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:27:10 -0600 the Lowell Inn a lovely old hotel built in 1927. Pat had eaten here about 30 years ago - a four course meal with selected wines which included having escargots for the first time. We did not have the four course meal but had an equally good one in the dining room after having cocktails outside on the patio. Then on to Manitowish Waters, WI for our third visit to the Smiths' at their northwoods cabin. Although the area is suffering for lack of rain it is still beautiful and fun to see the chipmunks, nuthatches, chickadees and a bald eagle which was circling over the lake. We took a walk on a national forest interpretative trail on Thursday and at least yesterday could identify numerous trees of the area. Tomorrow, we drive across the upper pennisula of Michigan to Bay Harbor to visit Pat's cousin. This will be new territory for us.]]> http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000202.html http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000202.html Fri, 07 Sep 2007 08:41:59 -0600 http://hudsonsonthebend.com/main.php. The meal and the ambiance were excellent. On Thursday, we stopped by Jenny's for a great lunch with a sinful chocolate birthday cake. I got a chance to see Magda's room which is very pretty. Thanks to all for a lovely time.]]> http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000201.html http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000201.html Fri, 31 Aug 2007 16:08:42 -0600 Haynes flute today. My father bought it for me when I was fifteen and it went through high school and my years as a music major and afterwards as a music teacher. I think the last time I really played it professionally was with a group of music teachers who performed at various events in Houston; I always played "Flight of the Bumblebee" - a sure crowd pleaser. I haven't played it for 20 plus years but for a long time I just couldn't part with it. Finally rational thought overcame emotion and I placed an ad in the Lawrence paper. I got one caller and she ended up buying it. She plays locally in Lawrence, so it is nice to think that I may be able to go hear my flute being played again.]]> http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000200.html http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000200.html Sun, 19 Aug 2007 15:51:48 -0600 Wow - how fast it has gone! We had such a good time with Elizabeth, Jonathan and Kayleigh - playing games, reading stories, Jonathan learning to drive the gator, swimming in the little pool, T-Rex (except Kayleigh didn't like it, much!) Science City, flying a kite, picnic (using my nifty, new picnic hamper) and hike in Weston Bend, making cookies and because of rain a picnic in the Smith's house instead of at the band concert. And then! Jennifer, Stepan, Magda, Rita, Tim and Cat arrived. We rode the 1915 carousel in Leavenworth followed by ice cream from one of the original Dairy Queen buildings; we ate and dripped ice cream in the back of the truck; visited the Topeka Zoo and playground and rode the miniature train. The young adults got to have a kids free day in Kansas City and Jonathan, Kayleigh and Magda made more cookies. July 4th we visited the Shatto Dairy Farm where we got to pet calves and milk a cow and then in the evening the picnic and fireworks by the lake. A trip to see a movie and a new shopping area for everyone but P&C and a hike for J&S rounded out the week. There were many more happenings and activies all of which make for great memories. Thanks for coming! http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000199.html http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000199.html Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:52:52 -0600 Bloch Building designed by Stephen Holl. It is an interesting, beautiful building and we enjoyed wandering through inside and also outside in the sculpture garden. There is a temporary exhibit of about 25 impressionists and post-impressionists loaned by the Bloch family (think H&R Block) which will go back their home after the exhibit. It will be interesting to see the museum after sundown when the interior lighting makes the museum glow.]]> http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000198.html http://www.pckarl.net/journal/000198.html Sat, 09 Jun 2007 11:19:17 -0600