finishing up by Connie

Obviously, my computer skills leave a lot to be desired. I know the world is a smaller, more efficiently run place with all this technology, but I sometimes feel hopelessly out of the loop.

Yesterday we stopped in Wahoo to visit Simons Says Antiques owned by Jim & Vicki Simons. Vicki was in charge so we had a great chat. Jim & John have gradually gotten into the antique business, so this store is a natural outlet for their interest. They attend auctions to find goodies and retail through the store and various shows around the state.

Next Sunday we'll go to Lexington to see Tim's mom, Winnie, and observe her 94th birthday. She is determined to remain in her little apartment, even though mobility issues are more and more vexing.

Time to head in another direction. Perhaps it will not be 3 years before I post again!

Meanderings by Connie

It's been a LOONG time since I last wrote. Time to remedy the silence.

The last Saturday in April we attended a benefit for our friend, Gayle O. Her son Dustin (aka Shifty) is one of Tom's classmates, so we became acquainted via many baseball games/trips and the class of 2001's remarkable football team. Gayle has a big heart for animals and has operated a shelter for lost and abandoned animals for several years. Her husband Jim was killed in an auto accident early in February. Along with all the personal heartache, the financial picture became bleaker than it was before his death. Spending several hundred dollars for pet food each month was not fiscally responsible, so a number of her Duncan friends organized "Woofstock 2011." They gathered donations from many sources. (Tom donated gift certif . for ribs & I finished a baby quilt to add to the assortment.) The event was held in the old Duncan church hall (it reminds me a lot of the old Yutan Country Club.) and was packed from beginning to end. I was astounded at the number of donations. Tim stood behind the refreshment comm. at the HyVee liquor store check out stand. They filled a pickup with goodies. Two bands played, silent and live auctions took place and Gayle was thrilled with the support shown. Small towns know how to support their own.

On the animal front, we have gone from a one dog house to two dogs & one cat, and we're dog-sitting for Tom & Sarah this week while they vacation in Colorado. Patch, our deaf 11 year old rat terrier has been most gracious with the addition of Squirt, 6 year old Maltese culled from Ben & Heather's dog herd and Charlie, Joan's feline contribution to the mix. Joan & Blake came for the Duncan RibFest. One of Blake's clients breeds lap-sitting purring machines. Since Joan's vet school cat, Calvin, left the house for a stroll in February & never came back, she was determined to fill the void (her viewpoint) in our lives. The first time I held this little dynamo he leaped off my lap to explore and I said, "So long, Charlie." The name has stuck. (Did you know that phrase comes from the Seabiscuit story? It's one of my favorite books, bought at the Omaha airport in June 2003 while waiting for Tom's return from Iraq.) Anyway, Charlie sprints around the house just for fun and especially when I am nearing his cafeteria in the furnace room. Charlie Green would be proud, I'm sure.

We joined thousands of other gawkers at Gavin's Point Dam during the 4th of July weekend. All that water-----I think the airplanes flying over got the big picture better than the pedestrians. It would be interesting to take an aerial tour of the whole Missouri River system. The Corps of Engineers will have lots of questions to answer in the near future.

Last weekend we journeyed to Abie (eastern Butler County) for supper. The drive was beautiful (the heart of the Bohemian Alps) and the food at Abie's Place quite good. The restaurant is in the former elementary school and is definitely lacking in atmosphere. A big cemetery is located about a mile north of town. It's set back from the road and has two distinct sections----the more recent graves with rectangular 3x5 monuments and the older section with miniature skyscraper vertical monuments. That salesman must have worked on the pioneers' competitive natures. It's quite a sight!