Grandma's Kitchen Table

Weekend Updates of Threesomes

      The three amigos at the meet this weekend:  Daniel, Mike, and Matt.  Three nicer guys you will never meet.  Seriously. 

      We are thinking that perhaps three concerts, three rehearsals, a three-day swim meet, and three days of finals (last Friday, this Monday and Tuesday) all sort of collided in a Bermuda Triangle of Disappointing Swim Times over the weekend.   

      I am just saying...there was way too much going on for one single sixteen year old this weekend.   

   

      The Boy swam the 200 Butterfly at the meet...not the ideal swim for someone with rotator cuff problems at the moment, but he gave it a try...said it was a big mistake, that the shoulders just gave out before the first hundred. 

      The concerts were great.  (Photo is of Matt at the last of the three...the Brahms' Requiem with the GCHS choir.) 

      The finals we don't know about yet, but we will assume those are going fine as he is doing well in school. 

      The swimming times...let's just say there was a lot of room for improvement over the weekend.  A. Lot. Of. Room.

      Here are some fun photos from the meet...not too many, just a few of some of the guys enjoying their chances to compete at the first meet of the season.  The middle photo is of Matt and Mike getting ready to swim the 200 Backstroke.  They don't often swim side-by-side, so it was nice to get this photo of the two of them. 

Re-cruiting Up-Coming Freshmen

       Two years ago we were anticipating high school and wondering exactly where that adventure would lead us. 

       This week at Guerin, it was wonderfully fun watching the 8th Grade students from various schools shadowing the Guerin students with the same anticipation and excitement as they now have the opportunity to determine where their own high school adventure will lead.  

       Without a doubt, my favorite Upcoming Freshman shadowing this week was Sydney, pictured here with her Guerin name tag in place and looking ready for a full day of exploration at a school where she already has many experiences and loyalties:  big sis Samantha is a senior this year, and Mom works there as well. 

       She looks ready...this past year she seems taller, looks more like a girl on her way to high school, and is definitely able to handle any challenges ahead. 

       When the time comes to see Samantha vacating the halls to pursue her college dreams, it is lovely to think that maybe, just maybe, I will get to see Sydney realizing hers in high school at Guerin.  I am so looking forward to it. 

       As further note, if your path includes Guerin, plan to get your applications in early as the available spaces are filling up quickly!  If you aren't certain yet of your high school choice, attend the Guerin Catholic High School Open House on Sunday, November 16th from 6:00-8:30 p.m. and find a home with Guerin...it's absolutely lovely there.  Prayers for all parents and children as they discern the paths of their futures, please join me.  And, seriously, think about becoming a Golden Eagle!

 

Re-hearsals

        The gaathering of the guys as Mr. D gives them a pep talk about tackling the difficult choir piece last evening.  The Boy is easy to spot as he is still the tallest one around.

      When Matt returned from the retreat on Sunday, I picked him up as we didn't want to leave his car unattended up at OLMC for the weekend.  After he hopped in the car, his first words were, "Mom, can you drive me down to Butler as I can make the last hour of IYC rehearsal if we leave right now?"  I have grown very accustomed to Matt driving himself everywhere...he tends to go from one activity to the next with not much time between...I am getting way too old for that sort of schedule on a regular full-time basis, but this was an exception, so off we went for rehearsal.   

      Yesterday he went from school, to swim practice, to another rehearsal for his school choir, and since it was located down in Indy after dark, I figured I would drive him there as he was getting out of swimming too late to make the bus and then he could just ride the bus back with his friends if he wanted, I would pick him up at school, drive him over to CHS to get his car, and head home at that point.  Am I ever happy that The Boy has his driver's license...it was close to ten before the dust settled! 

      While I was down at the rehearsal location, I decided to just sit in on the rehearsal as it was Brahms' Requiem and I knew I would enjoy listening to it...now I am beginning to think I might be missing out on too much with him driving everywhere himself.  Always a tug this way or that on the issue of independence.  I always think I am ready for it, but then I think maybe I miss all that carting about to and fro much more than I realize.

      And, I also miss getting to see all the other kids, like these two in the photo above...two of my favorite pinks...Kristin and Samantha...I had better enjoy times with them now as they are both seniors this year.  Even if their parents don't cry at their graduation, I know I will!

Re-turning from Re-treat

       Matt, Jack, and Stephen at OLMC after the Knights retreat weekend.  Looking tired, but happy.  (Jack swims with Matt at CSC and Stephen goes to Guerin.)

      The young Knights group, about 70 boys from various parishes, had a retreat in southern Indiana (gorgeous this time of year with all those lovely leaves turning all those lovely colors) this past weekend.   

      They had a great time and here are a couple of photos from when they returned...I had intended to get all five of Matt's group of friends in one shot, but Colin headed out before I could round them all up, and I couldn't corner Marshall until the very end (pictured in photo to the right).  Teenage boys are like that...you really need lassos to keep them in one spot. 

      They attended Mass three times over the weekend, and each of the leaders for their parishes got to serve in some capacity, so Matt got to do that as he is the leader at SEAS. 

      He enjoyed meeting Knights from the other parishes and came home with a list of new friends which is always nice.  A lot of them were from a neighboring parish in Zionsville, just miles down the road, so that seems close enough that they will see each other from time to time.  Marshall is a member of that group actually.  He is a friend Matt has known for many years. 

      All in all, Matt was extremely delighted with the entire weekend and said the paintballing was absolute chaos with that many guys!  This, I take it, was a good thing.

Re-velry!

       Well, Margaret finally turns 50...I was getting a little tired of being in my 50's and Margaret being "only in her 40's" these past three years, so of course, a few of us decided that we really should honor such an occasion with a girls' night out.  (Photo at left:  Ginny, Laura, Vanessa, Jamie, Margaret, and Melanie)

      Ginny, Vanessa, and Jamie conspired thusly, and managed to pull off a surprise night, which is NOT easy to do with Margaret!  Margaret has a husband and four active teenagers.  Getting Margaret to slow down enough to sit anywhere is something of a challenge.  We did it! 

      It was a lovely evening...Jamie knew a college tenor from Joanna and Mary's college friends in the music department, who agreed to come and serenade the birthday girl, both with song and music, which we all thoroughly enjoyed as he was quite good.  (Photo at right is Margaret calling Rex on the phone saying, "Oh, I have to share this with Rex!" as she held the phone out so he could hear it, too.  How sweet, still in love like that after all these years.)

     Italian fare for dinner.  Gifts, as well as some gag gifts (and I promised not to post photos of said gifts, but they were funny.)  The restaurant thoughtfully supplied a birthday cake for the birthday party, which was a lovely gesture and the photo at the left shows the wait staff bringing out the cake and singing an Italian version of the birthday song for a very surprised Margaret.  

      We had a great time and are all looking forward to spending our 50's together...no wait, that would be just Jamie, Margaret, and I so far as the rest of these babes have a year or two to go yet.  It won't be long....  

      And, just for fun, because NONE of us has ever buttered a breadstick before, the lovely Laura who pulled aside the waitress and asked politely, "May I have some butter please?"  When it arrived, Laura buttered up her breadstick while we all explained to her that breadsticks already have butter on them and gave her a hard time, which did not phase Laura in the least as she throughly enjoyed her breadstick WITH LOTS OF BUTTER!  Her request was for me not to mention this on the blog, but come on, Laura, it was extremely funny and one of those things I had not heard of before and then had heard mentioned twice in one day...its always good to learn new things, as any self-respecting homeschooling mom will tell you, right Laura?  Breadsticks with butter...who knew? 

 

Friday's Favorites Fare

      Since Ali arrived too late for the group photos of the swimmers on homecoming, Buddy sent over this one that was taken on Ali's camera that night at Sarah and Scott's of Matt and Ali before the dance.  No, not dating, just good friends posing for a photo together.   So, today's type print color will be in Ali's signature color of pink...she redid her room in her signature colors of black and pink and white...so nice, and so Ali! 

READING:  Knitting patterns...I know, not my usual, but I am trying to arrive at something I am capable of knitting so that I can knit mittens and scarves to go with the coat donations this year for Coats for Kids.  With our pool open, my knitting time has been drastically reduced, but I can see the writing on the wall here...and Bill will be showing up within the next several weeks to close it.  I am about to embark on new tangent of historical reading, just need to get to the library! 

LISTENING TO:   Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen...I know, don't ask.  Lately I have been in the mood for sets in threes...I am pretty sure Dante's trilogy is up for reading again this winter...I have it carefully laid aside for November beside the fireplace. 

COOKING THROUGH:  Le Cordon Bleu at Home (Le Cordon Bleu School of Cooking); Baking:  From My Home to Yours (Dorie Greenspan)

FAV NEW FIND:  Whatever I was thinking of putting here, it will not be as exciting as the wine harvest, the wine tasting room gig, the olive brining, and the new beekeeping undertakings of my friend Sara in California!  She is always undertaking the most interesting of things in life.  So, this week my favorite new find is just anything Sara is up to out there.   

FAV THING TODAY;   I think just sharing newsy bits with friends.  It's always fun to catch up and be included in different undertakings in which friends are involved.

GOING TO:   Well, 'tis football season and all...Hawks play Pitt in Pittsburgh at noon; Hoos take on the BSU Cardinals down in Hooville at 7 on Saturday night.  Tonight Guerin lost to Ritter; CHS (currently ranked first in 5A play) beat Lawrence North.  Alex has a scout camping trip up at the Dunes; Matt has a full day of choir retreat and enough choir, church, swimming, school, and social commitments to fill up the entire weekend.  I am thinking this would be a great weekend to swim, cook my entries for TWD and WhiskW as I have a very busy week out of the house coming up, luxuriate at the library for a bit, and generally just fill in some gaps around here. Definitely some movie watching in the works.  What's up over there? 

PRAYING FOR:   Teens struggling with finding their way into adulthood, please join me. 

Happy Thoughts

      A quick giggle here from last week.  A small circle of us take turns fetching things each week for elderly shut-ins who have no family nearby and are still able to live on their own, but do not drive anymore.  This is immensely satisfying as these people are truly appreciative of anything you do for them. 

      Last Wednesday, I ran some errands, pharmacy and library, etc. for Helen and I usually take a little lunch and maybe a flower when I go.  I was cooking that day and had some extra chicken and decided to use it to make a Mexican Wrap for her as she likes to try new things usually...she says it keeps her on the cutting edge.  Cute. 

      When I arrived, she excitedly said, "Oh, is that lunch for me?  What's in there?"  I replied, "It's a Mexican Wrap, a deviled egg, some sliced plums, and a few cookies."  She looked a bit shocked and said, "Oh, I don't think I can eat that."  I thought she might be thinking the wrap was too spicy or something, so I said, "Oh, Helen, that's okay...I will run out and get you something else...what would you like?" 

      Helen:  "I don't want you to have to run out just for me, but I just don't think I could eat any rat."  She had clearly misunderstood what I said...so I said, "Helen, it's not rat...it's called a wrap (pronouncing it very clearly with the accent on the "p" part) because you wrap a tortilla around it.  It's chicken."  Helen:  "Not rat that tastes like chicken?"  Me:  "No, no...real chicken.  Chicken Chicken, no rat." 

      Helen:  "Well, I could eat that if it's chicken.  I didn't think you looked like a person who would cook a rat."  At which point, I sort of burst out laughing thinking to myself, "I wonder what a person looks like in her mind who could cook a rat and eat it.  Thankfully it seemed that I was not such a person." 

      She was delighted with the wrap once we got it all straightened out.  The lovely thing was that even when she thought I had cooked up a rat, she was trying to be very gracious and accommodating to me.  There's just not enough of that in life anymore...the elderly have much to teach us.  And, note to self:  speak slower, and more distinctly next time.

Happy Families

 

      "Happy Families are all alike...."  One of Tolstoy's most remembered lines.

       And, because Lauren was nice enough to share her homecoming photos with me, I thought I would share some really nice ones of Lauren and her happy family who live just across the way from us and are mentioned frequently here at GKT. 

      Lauren, Josh (JJ), and Matt all swim together at CSC, Lauren went to the fancy pants swim camp in Arizona with Matt and Mike this past summer, and both Lauren and JJ are Junior National Swimmers.   

      Larry, Sherry, Josh (aka JJ), Jesse, and the beautiful Lauren...a nicer family you will never meet.  (Photo 1:  Larry, Lauren, Sherry; Photo 2:  Jesse, Lauren, JJ.)

 

Happy Days: CHS Homecoming 2008: The Swimmers!

      Friday night was CHS's homecoming football game, which they won handily (Guerin being not so fortunate this week), and Saturday night was the CHS homecoming dance.    

      The CHS swimmers invited Matt, Ali, Harrison, and Daniel to go since the four of them attend other schools. (Photo at left is Cameron, Mike, Harrison, and Matt.)  The kids all went as a group, with quite a large turnout, and Sarah and Scott had dinner and a nice party at their house before the dance, so here are a few fun photos of that, compliments of Lauren and Sue V.  You are on your own with names...too many to list them all.   

First off are the Freshmen swimmers; followed by the Sophomore Swimmers, followed by the Junior Swimmers; followed by the most senior of the Senior swimmers.  (Of course, not all the swimmers went to homecoming, and some, who shall remain nameless, Ali, arrived too late for the group photos.) 

 

 

  

After the dance, Jessie's parents hosted a party at their home, and I think Matt finally arrived back home somewhere around 12:30 p.m.  He drove himself to all of it...this is just too nice to not have to drive him places and then go fetch him back again, even though the high school is only five miles away and Sarah and Jessie both live less than a mile from us.  It's particularly great not having to wait in long lines for the fetching process.  It is amazing how much time you free up when you aren't chauffering!

      And, the last photo, with no need of any accompanying words because after all, they are who they are when it comes to photo ops:  Michael, JJ, and Charles with Daniel in front.  It's always Happy Days when the four of these guys are around. 

   

The Happy Girl

 

     

       By request, readers have been asking about Ali..."How's Ali, What's Ali been up to?  We have had no news of Ali for awhile."  So, here is a little catch-up of The Happy Girl. 

       Before the new football stadium here in town opened for the public, there was a nice little tour and here are two fun photos, one of Ali touring and the other of Ali giving a press conference like where TD usually gives his post-game press conference.  Too cute...and I can so see Ali giving her own press conferences for something or other in the future. 

      Ali is swimming with Matt in the senior group, singing with him in the IYC choir as she made the move up this year, so we are all thrilled that Ali and Matt are back together in the same choir group again...just not the same with Ali in another group.  They will be going to Spain next summer for the eleven day singing tour.  Ali's loving school, a sophomore this year, she and Harrison took driver's ed together at the end of the summer, and last night, Ali, Harrison, and Matt (who all go to Catholic high schools) were all invited to Carmel's homecoming dance by the kids on the swim team so they went as a group, Ali looking cute in her black dress and pink headband (can see photos from homecoming post later today).  So there's your update on The Happy Girl.  She's having a great time living life...and still the sweetest thing going.  Life is just a whole lot more fun with Ali around.

The Countdown Continues: 20 Days Until that Driver's License

       Not a lot of swimming news from yesterday.  Matt swam the 200 Free and added time, so he didn't make it back for finals in the evening in that swim.  Hmmm....last evening was the combined birthday party for The Lovely Tess and the Heroic and Inspirational Hannah, beginning at 7 and ending at 11 p.m. 

      I said to the The Swimmer..."Well, there is some consolation in all this, Matt, now you will be able to arrive on time for the party tonight."  His reply (and I am thinking this is somewhat of a giveaway, let's see if you might agree):  "I know, I thought for a minute that I had somehow managed to qualify for finals and then I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that two kids in my heat beat me by just a tad." 

      My guess is that there was not a whole lot of effort being expended upon that 200 Free yesterday due to wanting very badly to be at that party with all his friends.  (Matt gives up a lot of things with friends to always choose swimming first, so we were not at all unhappy with this, I have to say...just found it amusing is all.) 

      He had a great time at the party, and while I sent Dixie with Mark to get a shot of Matt and Tess and Hannah to mark the occasion, he returned saying that Matt stood still barely long enough to say, "Good Evening, Mr. K., thank you for inviting me to your home," before he was off and running with some friends to join the party gathered in the lower level.  Rounding up the three at the end was no easier, so here is what we have from the evening's festivities:  one very cute fun photo of Matt and The Lovely Tess.  Happy Birthday, Girls!  You are both beautiful, inside and out! 

 

What's Going on Around Here? Well...

       Good golly...I took a few days off here just to regroup a bit and there has been no end to the calls and emails asking if I am okay...you are all very sweet to think of me.  Really, I am fine.  I just wanted a few days of quiet and reflection...one just needs to do that sometimes.  This was one of those times.  And, now  I am back, and ready to roll out of town for sectionals tomorrow. 

       Before heading out of town, however, the CSC Summer State Swim Party was tonight and CSC had a lot of state qualifiers as you can see from the group photo.  I can't begin to tell you the names of all the little ones, but Matt's group is composed of, by and large, the swimmers sitting in the front row.  (Michael and Elliot are in the second standing row, the first two boys in; Ali is up on the right in front of the boy with the red bandana.)  Here's an attempt at the ones who appear most often on the blog and in conversations.   Sitting in the front and reading left to right:  Mike, Johnny, Mickey, Rhiannon, Jessie, Trish, Carly, Daniel, Megan D., Matt G., Matt F., Harrison, and Andrew.  Then in front of them are Lauren S., Matt S., Samantha, Megan J., Josh, and John.  In front is Charles. 

     

      The swimmers are always a lot of fun and when I was circling around, camera in hand, there was the great cry of "I want to be on the blog!"  So, here are some tables

of swimmers who are at their photogenic best and humoring me with nice snapshots of them that I will treasure forever.  (Left:  Trish, Daniel, Rhiannon, Matt S., Megan D., Jessie, and Mickey.  Below are Matt F., Matt G., Johnny, Ali (wet hair), and Caroline I.

 

At left:  Harrison, Andrew, Mike, Charles, and John.)  And, for those I didn't get, sincere apologies as we needed to leave early this evening to get Matt to another meeting at church that was scheduled for the same time. 

       And, lastly, the bad news.  After shooting the above photos, I headed back towards Mark, saw him chatting with Rock (Matt's Guerin high school swim coach), and thought, "Oh, great, a chance to chat with Rock and see how everyone at his house is faring this summer."  Rock has been coaching with CSC over the summer and I have been kidding Chris about "stealing Guerin's swim coach." 

      The first thing I heard after "Hi," was this:  Rock:  "I have some bad news."  My heart sank...bad news always seems to come in little pockets of pairings. I definitely didn't want any more bad news.  Mark:  "Rock has brain cancer and only a year to live."  OMW, the look on my face must have been really devastating because they both quickly chimed up and said, "No, no, no...really, it's not that, but the real bad news will seem much better now." 

      Rock has accepted an offer from a school in Alabama and will be leaving Indiana in a month.  While we are, of course, very happy for his promotion, which is a big deal and comes with a big paycheck, we are also very sad at losing such a great role model, coach, friend, etc. not only for Matt, but for all of us.  

      Oh, and you would all be very proud of me as a few sad tears did not come until I was talking to Laurie and Buddy about it later, when I looked over and saw...well, this next photo, which is Rock telling Matt.  Matt handled it all pretty well, but he was so looking forward to motoring with Rock on the high school swim circuit again this coming year.  We were very lucky to have had everything work out for last year the way it did, and Rock indicated that it would all work out....Guerin is all about providence, after all.  

      Okay...so, once again...we are In. Search. Of. A. High. School. Swim. Coach.  Anyone?  Anyone at all?  It will need to be someone very special and terrific to fill Rock's fins.  After all, his current team set all new swim records at Guerin and had 100% attendance at Indiana State Swimming this year! 

      It just seems I find wonderful people, and before I know it, my time with them is up...it's all just a little overwhelming when it happens.  But to Rock: we are very happy for you and it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.  Best of wishes in your new adventure...they are very lucky to have you!

Rounding Out the Weekend's Bits

      Hope you all had a great 4th of July holiday.  Here are a few photos from the weekend, nothing earth shattering, but I have all sorts of email this morning asking where I have been and why I haven't posted anything for days on end.   First photo is Matt helping Steven with his fireworks at Grandma and Grandpa's on Friday.  Alex, David, and Jonathan were all busy looking after their own rockets and what not, but Matt has a soft spot for Steven, and vice versa, so the littlest often gets a helping hand from Matt.  

      After the pre-show in the driveway, the boys headed down to the school grounds in Elwood for the town fireworks show, as they do each year, and light even more sparklers and things while waiting for the show to start.    (Left to right:  Alex, David, Matthew, Jonathan, and Steven.)  I don't know what it is with little boys and fire, but they are all just thrilled with the idea of playing with all these things each year.  They scare me to death...I try not to be around watching as I am more likely to keep saying "Oh, be careful," and the first rule of lighting fireworks is for a certain amount of danger to be present, or so my husband tells me it is with boys.  It's better if I just don't even peek while they do it all. 

      So, we had fireworks in Elwood on Friday, then on Saturday there were fireworks at the end of the Symphony on the Prairie, pictured at the left here, which are always a big hit and much anticipated each year, the boys never tiring of this from year to year and aghast at the thought of ever missing it, like last year when Matt and Mark were in Italy over the 4th.  (Photo courtesy of Alex who is using it in his 4-H scrapbook this year.)  The stage is lit very attractively and since Conner Prairie is a historical venue, depicting a farm in 1836 Indiana, there aren't any lights to interfere with the fireworks display out in the middle of the farm fields.  They shoot the fireworks off to the 1812 Overture, of course.

      And, finally, last night at Buddy and Laurie's party, Buddy had a stunning display of fireworks that Matt is still raving about as he just thinks Buddy rocks with all his crazy fun ways.  It was the perfect day to sit around their pool and chat and eat barbecued brisket and just enjoy the day.  Here is a nice photo of Matt and Ali before everyone else arrived and Ali changed into her swimming suit as I figured this was a better shot that one of Ali in her very pretty bikini looking oh so lovely, being shown on the Internet and all.  Since the butterfly is Ali's stroke of choice, we requested a swim off between her and Matt in the butterfly, but she declined saying it was her "only day off of swimming competitively," so we will never know if she can take him on that stroke or not...it's not his best and I think she could do it.   This morning at practice, Laurie was picking Ali up and I said, "I can't believe you are up, dressed, in full makeup, and functional after that very late evening last night..." She just chuckled and said, "Well, it might look like all that, but I am tired this morning."  It was a great party. 

      In other news, no photo currently available due to the sensitivity of the subject to be discussed, all skateboarding has been called to a halt for the swimmers.  Coach Chris arrived back from the Olympic Trials in Omaha to the news that JJ was sporting a wrist brace and 'fessing up to the apparent cause, i.e. skateboarding dos and dares, and while I don't know the whole story, apparently all the boys have decided that one Junior National championship swimmer injured is one too many and skateboarding will be sidelined.  Raising boys certainly helps one understand one's husband a lot more, let me tell you.  

      Okay, this makes two posts today (only because I am a lightening fast typist and I am doing laundry, pumping off the pool cover from the rain earlier so I can swim, and fielding various requests for transport to and from various venues)...and now there is a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich calling my name, with a side of cantaloupe and a nice glass of ice water properly condensed and wonderful looking with the water droplets running down the side...Yahooo...it's summer!  Have a great week! 

5 Swimmers Posing as 5 Skaters

      There have been some recent complaints observances by the younger set that I have been featuring "too much cooking and crafting" and not enough of "us" on the photo sections of this blog.  So, here's a post today featuring last night's street fun in front of our house. 

      Daniel, Matt, JJ, Michael, and Nick (back to front in photo) decided to take up skateboarding and learn "some cool tricks."  (If any of the parents and/or coaches are reading this, I went totally unheeded in my pleas for them to consider they had sectionals, state, and junior nationals all coming up and that a sprained ankle, wrist, arm, or broken anything, etc., was not going to be adding any advantages to the quest for swimming superiority.  I tried.  They ignored.  I tried again.  Deafness amongst them all.  They are all taller than me, so I pretty much just had to call it a day.)   

        Daniel making a run, Matt managing to stay on and stay forward, JJ figuring out the best way to get injured (indeed, the only injury of the evening, requiring admistration of Bandaids over bloody parts), Michael for the most part, at least at this juncture, just cruising nicely with not a lot of super fancy work, and Nick showing off some fancy moves zigzag fashion up and down the street doing way too many fancy bits for me to get anything close to a good photo.  Nick, I have to say, hands down, clearly the winner of any sort of award for daring, drive, and determination resulting in dazzling us all with his new moves out of the water. I say "out of the water" as he has been dazzling us with moves in the water for years...as have the rest of these guys.

      And, because he is a favorite among many of the young ladies who check-in here at The Table, a nice photo of Daniel cruising with a good deal of grace and ease. (For those of you who don't know Daniel, you might remember Daniel's blog photo from December when he and Matt went with Daniel's parents and sister to the Christmas Spectacular all dressed up in suit coats, etc.)  Daniel, also known as, "the blonde god of swimming," by many of these said young ladies, is quite a nice gentleman as well.  As are the rest of these young men.  Always proud to know them.

      No real serious injuries from the night, so let's hope they have that out of their systems and all stay healthy and injury-free for all their stellar swims in July.  You hear that, boys?  No?  Well, I tried.

     

Allison is 18...How Can That Be?

      A nice photo of our friends at their daughter's graduation party this past Saturday.  Roger was the boys' first cub scout leader, Adam is the boys' good friend who appears in countless posts and many photos, Pam is a lovely friend to have and very entertaining always, and it is just plain difficult to believe that the beautiful Allison is 18 (we have known her since she was about 8) and this fall will be heading off to Purdue University (hmmmphff...I tried my best to win her over to the Cream and Crimson, but her orchestra professor at Purdue will be the one she has had at Carmel these past years, so I lost whatever voice I might have had). 

      Just kickin' around this evening doing this, that, and the other, eagerly awaiting the time we can drive to the airport and pick up Matt from his Arizona trip.  Midnight.  People are actually up and doing things at midnight...it's not all that common with me these days, but I can remember days past when midnight seemed a logical hour to be doing things like that. 

      His meet in Arizona went really well.  He swam these freestyles:  50, 100, 200, 400; these backstrokes:  100 and 200;  and the 200 IM.  Seven swims, 5 new best times...qualified for finals in all 7 swims (even the 400 Free which I thought he had not on Friday, my mistake), and finished way higher than he ever thought possible...the highest being third one and fourth in another (but had to pull from finals on Sunday as Team Indiana needed to head to the airport).  The 100 Back Jr. Nat. cut...still elusive...but all in all, a wonderful meet.  He loved the chance to swim with many of the top swimmers in our state as well as other top swimmers at the meet.  He brings back a new excitement and drive for his sport...nothing like a lot of like-minded swimmers to spur one another on.  He made many new friends with the swimmers and coaches, and he had a really wonderful time in Arizona doing the fun bits the coaches had planned for them while they were there.  With opportunities like this, you always bring back a whole lot more than just new best times.  We are very thankful he had the opportunity to have this chance to experience it all.   

      I cooked my Whisk Wednesdays meal tonight for posting on Wednesday...I won't say anything further until Wednesday, but I will say that I am thinking of changing Blue Bernice's name to Blue Bearnaise...it was THAT good. 

3+3=6 Hours at 2 Museums Today

     A cute photo of Mickey and Taylor after swimming today.  And, the next one of Jonathan, Harrison, and Matt raiding the frig in my suite for Gatorade (I keep treats for the kids that drop by).        

      Swimming is going okay...just so/so, but we didn't really expect much else with the shoulder problems, so I think we are doing really well.  He was back for finals this evening in the backstroke (no Jr. Nat cut on that, but we still have most of the summer left, so here's hoping...).  Somehow he missed signing in for the 400 Free this morning and was not allowed to swim that...so that was a bit of a disappointment, a few choice words from Coach Brian, rightly deserved and all.  Harrison beat him in the 50 Free, which thrilled Harrison as the two of them go back and forth with that swim together...they are good buddies, so Matt would always rather lose to Harrison than anyone else in that swim. 

      Once again, I was MIA at the pool.  Really, honestly, no one even notices...Matt says he swims what he swims whether we are there or not, and the truth is that at all the other meets we are always there, and this pool is not really a pool.  It's a QUARRY.  A quarry, mind you, with very little seating, absolutely no parking because this quarry is in the middle of a very old established neighborhood which grew up around it more than a hundred years ago.  In my four attempts to actually locate it, I have managed said task once...and by the time I arrived, the nearest parking was three miles away.  This is the 80th Annual whatever... of this meet and you would think in the previous 79 years someone would have figured out a parking plan.  Today it rained, so the meet was conducted between outbursts and everyone was standing around in about an inch of mud...whereas at the museums, I was nice and dry.

       Anyway, Lakeside in Louisville means that I say, "Good luck, Matt," in the morning and "How'd it go, Buddy?" in the evening.  Today I was even back during the break between swims...he lounged in my room for a bit chatting and then off he went with his friends and off I went for my return visit to The Speed.  I spent the morning at The Frasier and I will spare you all from ramblings as you were so nice to let me get by with it yesterday.  (Besides, I am storing up as I hope to be back at The Frasier this fall with the Shakespeare group and I can bore you all senseless then.) 

      One more day...one more museum...one return trip home...and one exciting venture being unveiled that Shari and I are cooking up...you will have to wait to hear about it, but I will say that it involves moving Craft Day Wednesdays to Craft Day Fridays.  Wednesdays are going to be something new...previewing this week.  Because I don't have enough going on and all.

5 Hours -- 1 Museum Down and 2 to Go

    This post was written yesterday, so just pretend you are reading it then.  Typepad has a feature where you can write up a post and then have it post later, so I thought I would give that a whirl to test it and see if I could actually figure that out...I don't know what I did, but it didn't post at all.  It's a good thing I have other skills is all I can say. 

      This is a photo from last evening after the swim sessions as I was not at the pool to take any there...more on that in another post.  So, here you have, starting in the corner with Matt, Jonathan, Chris, John, and Harrison, all famished from a full day of swimming and eating more pasta than you can even imagine is possible...can you believe those blues on Chris?  He has the bluest eyes I have ever seen on anyone.  I had to take six shots as they were all goofing off and Harrison was trying to go for "studied" poses...this was the best of the lot, believe me.  So...here's yesterday's post:

      5 hours at The Speed Art Museum today...be still my heart!  I mentioned to Nancy and Jeri (other swim moms here) that I was going and they both looked horrified that I might insist they come along...they need not have worried as Nancy's claim to fame is that she did the Roman Art exhibit last year in 5 minutes (or less) and Jeri's similar claim is that she did the Louvre in 45 minutes...sort of like my idea of shopping.   Last year I spent the whole of one day at The Speed seeing most everything in depth (they have really nice exhibits and no one rushes you along at all...very important in my mind).  I did, however, run out of time in the last four rooms and had to rush a bit...much to my dismay as that is where the Dutch artists' works hang and The Speed has a particularly great collection of those. 

      Since watching the movie The Illusionist, I have been haunted by thoughts of getting back here to The Speed to spend more time with this Dutch collection as the Dutch portraits are so like the filming of the entire movie...it is like one Dutch painting after another in hue, contrast, lighting, silhouette, mood, etc., etc. 

      I was there when the door opened and headed straight for those last four rooms...they did not disappoint.  The portraits were as I remembered and I spent three of my five hours in those four rooms as they have not only the portraits I was so keen on seeing, but also the Dutch landscapes, and the Dutch still lifes. 

      I fell in love with a painting called Still Life with Fruit and Flowers by Jan Van Os (painting was signed, but no date, however, JVO lived between 1744-1808, so you can roughly do a quick guess as to time frame).  I can never decide if I like still life flowers better, or still life fruit better...with this painting, one does not need to choose as it has both (with a few little animals and a secret cherub thrown in for good measure).  The fruits and flowers are swizzled about in "S" shapes throughout the painting...it is amazing the way the "S" shapes do so many things and yet it all looks cohesively harmonious...I looked at it for an hour...seriously, don't even think I am kidding.  I can't wait to find a reference on it and read something about it and the painter (I don't know that much about him, so if you do, share...please share).   Life is great, isn't it?  Just full of amazingly wonderful things.  (And, yes, I know, I so don't deserve it.)

      Van Os leads your eyes down "S" shaped paths in the painting that wind in and out, up one side, down another, across and back again.  The paths follow colors of brights along one path, pastels along the other, and each color group has its own "S" curve while somehow blending with the others...reds, greens, oranges, browns, yellows, pinks, all wooing you into absolute love; and sizes of all the larger ones leading to paths of the medium ones and the smaller ones still another way; and shapes with rounded and pointed subjects leading you around the painting each on their own curved path and sometimes intertwining; darling little flies and a tiny mouse munching on the meat of an open walnut, a cat with its paw resting on the very edge of a bird nest filled with tiny perfect eggs; and the most absolutely wonderful renditions of water droplets on the petals of the flowers and skins of the fruits that you will ever see...EVER.  Gorgeous.  I am going back tomorrow. 

      There was also a special little hallway exhibit in the basement...OMW...the basement of all places, well the "lower level" which is essentially a basement, OMW again...where they had lined up drawings by these artists:  Picasso, Matisse, Constable, Degas, Whistler, Durer, Delacroix, Winslow Homer, John James Audubon.  ALL IN ONE SMALL HALLWAY...unbelievable artwork to the left of me and then to the right of me as I proceeded down the hallway...ALONE AS NO ONE ELSE WAS THERE at the time and I had all these guys all to myself...one hour and 15 minutes and that was rushing it.  Amazingly beautiful drawings...just me and them...how lucky was I on this day at that time?  (And, I did not touch a single one...can you believe it?  I am behaving extremely well under these circumstances!)

      I was running out of time as I still wanted to see the special exhibit of Werner Reiterer called Raw Loop (modern art and I so wish Vanessa had been with me as Vanessa and I do modern art so well together).  I laughed and giggled through the entire exhibit...he is a humorist, as well as an artist, so you are actually supposed to do that.  He is an Austrian and this is his first solo show in the United States.  Some of it was print (one of my favorites being a drawing entitled Jesus at Home which consisted of a coat hook hanging on the wall with a halo draped over it, a white tunic hanging on the hook, and a pair of sandals neatly residing on the floor under it all...I chuckled the moment I saw it) and some of the exhibit was interactive sculpture. 

      I loved the interactive sculpture (Oh, Vanessa, you would have loved these!).  My favorites were a bank of 8 very large loud speakers that when you approached you could hear whispering coming from them, however, the closer you got, the louder the voice became until it was VERY LOUD when you were as close as you could go, sort of the opposite of life where you hear a whisper up close and the louder stuff far away, I suppose; a mannequin man dressed and sitting on the floor leaning against the wall, very human-like, and when you neared him, he began to "breathe" and it was quite haunting actually, sort of like approaching a still figure to check to see if he/she is actually breathing and alive when it is pretty clear he/she is not, and then having it breathe deeply when you are right next to it, made you pull back and gasp in surprise; and a room where you were supposed to yell with increasing loudness so that the lights would brighten and dim according to the volume of your voice...and on and on as I know you have all probably quit reading when you realized this was me on another museum tangent...yes, I know, your eyes immediately began to glaze over and you thought, "Uh, oh...here she goes again...." 

      And, for those of you still reading, I had the best time today and it ended all too soon.  Tomorrow The Fraiser Museum...and a sneak back at The Speed to have one last look at the Van Os painting...The Speed Art Museum is, by the way, FREE, so go...really, just go...you will love it!  And, take me with you!

2 Sad 4 Words

     We all arrived safely in Louisville.  Coaches took the swimmers to Churchill Downs for a tour and a chance to watch a race or two. (They schedule some fun event or tour each year.)  Matt loved it.  Dinner was at an Italian restaurant...pasta for the swimmers, don'tchaknow.  On the way back we learned that the father of two CSC swimmers had passed away unexpectedly, so everyone is very sad and sober this evening...all of us in shock. 

      Chuck will be missed.  He was one of those very involved dads who seemed to be everywhere his girls were...as referee, swim official, board member, father, coach, cheerleader.  We have known Chuck and Jane for nine years through swimming...Libby was with Matt at Guerin this year.  We are all very sad tonight.  

      Photos are Margaret and Lacey...Lacey in the pink and pearls...can you stand it?  So fun...she is such a girl and I just love that about her.  Beautiful, beautiful girls, these two...inside and out!  The other photo is Mickey playing doctor this evening taping Matt's ice packs on his shoulders...we needed a very tall guy to do this and Mickey is always willing to help out with anything that needs to be done.  A lot of chuckling and laughing, but they got it eventually. 

     Enough posting tonight...no one is really in the mood to party or take a lot of photos, etc.  In your charity, please pray for the repose of the soul of Chuck; pray for his wife, Jane, and their daughters, Libby and Tori.  Thank you.

       

The Goodbye and The Legacy

      Yesterday was the Memorial Mass for Kelly.  Not a "funeral," because Donna and the kids wanted it to be a celebration of Kelly's life, and it was that:  a chance to gather together,  to celebrate Mass and the wonderful person that left us all too soon.

        The thing about watching someone suffer for a prolonged period of time, and I can't think of too many diseases that come close to ALS in this regard, is that when the release finally comes, there is a great sense of sadness, but also one of intense relief that your loved one is no longer bearing the burden of earthly suffering.  I do not think that I have ever witnessed a family who demonstrated more grace than I did yesterday seeing Donna, Scott, Sarah, and Katie at the service, dinner, etc.  I don't have a clue how much endurance and fortitude it took for them to present the loving, joyful, compassionate demeanors that each displayed throughout the entire day.  Kelly was everything to this family and I don't know how they managed to handle such a great loss so beautifully...grace had to be fully present is all that I can believe.

      I was doing fairly well in the emotion department, greeting people as we went into the nave, carefully choosing to sit in the very back row, at the very end, so that hopefully none of my weepy friends would want to sit that far back, thereby enhancing my chances of getting through it all dry-eyed.   Krystal and Jay (Harrison's parents) sat with us for the same reasons and we all managed to keep dry-eyed (Jay and Mark sat side by side and Krystal and I sat on either side of them so that further enhanced the chances). 

      I was good until the carrying up of the Offertory gifts...Donna, Scott, Sarah, and Katie chose to do this themselves, and as they walked down that long center aisle toward the altar, I was feeling a little teary...when they reached the altar where Father and Matt (as the altar server) were standing, it was all over.  There was a family we all love dearly, our priest who we love dearly, and our son, standing in front of Kelly's photo on an easel.  Too much.  As Father and Matt proceeded to the altar and Donna and the kids to their seats, the hanky was out, and it was a few minutes before I could see clearly again, pictures of years and years of seeing and talking and laughing and working and sharing life's moments raced through my mind.  It's hard to say goodbye. 

      Jeff, Kelly's best friend from his childhood and throughout life, spoke beautifully about the legacy that Kelly leaves behind.  He summed up his favorite parts of Kelly (besides the "pearly whites" as Kelly had the most beautiful teeth and smile...Kelly was always happy, always smiling) as being these three:  First, Kelly was always ready to forgive and forget and encourage others to do the same; Second, Kelly always gathered people together, brought people together who you never thought could ever be brought together...always the loving link between people and groups of people; and Third, Kelly always looked for the best in people, he always found the good in people and celebrated those aspects.  Jeff is so right...all these are a great legacy...one we all share and will remember when we think of Kelly in the years to come.  It's a legacy for you, too...share it around.

The Hero: Rest in Peace, Kelly

      In Webster's Dictionary a "hero" is defined thusly:  "a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities; one that shows great courage..."   If you asked my two sons who their hero was, they would say, "Kelly Nocco." 

 

      Hands down, Kelly has been the hero around here for the past four years.  Maybe longer, actually, as we have known Kelly and his family for the past eight years: our children swim together with CSC, we attend the same parish, we live on one side of our church, they live on the other, separated only by one of the few remaining farm fields left in Carmel. 

      Through all these years, Kelly's devotion to his family was first and foremost the very definition of his life.  Where his kids were, you would find Kelly.  If the kids participated in something, Kelly was not only there, he served on the board, he volunteered, he shuttled his and everyone else's kids to and fro, he balanced work and play like it was a picnic every single day.  Cheerleader extraordinaire for not only his kids, but all of our kids.  Always.  The support and encouragement each person gained from knowing Kelly was continuously present, the very essence of himself. 

      In life, each person has a moment when they learn of something that suspends them in time, a reference point from which they can always and forever draw from that moment on.  My first experience with this was seeing my father alive for the last time when I was 5.  From there I remember my First Confession, My First Communion, the day JFK was assassinated, and on and on throughout my life with various other things.  And so it was, that such was the case when I stood beside our friend Kelly chatting about the day-to-day bits of life and he turned to me and said, "Kayte, when I went to Mayo Clinic, I found out that I have ALS." 

      My father's sister had just died from ALS, so I was not unfamiliar with the disease...my heart sank.  I don't remember what I said, but I know there were tears in my eyes as I looked at him.  He said, "You know, I don't care for myself as I have had a wonderful life, a full and rich life, experienced all the joys that one could hope to experience.  But, I do care for Donna and the kids.  Donna will need to be a single mother and my kids are just so young.  I will miss so much with them.  That's the part that I just can't come to terms with yet."  His kids...Kelly was always all about the kids. 

      These past years he has spent in progressive decline with the ALS, but he still attended as many of the activities as he could, for and with his kids.  In the early stages of ALS, right on through his last days, he was intent on making each and every day count, really really count.  We all learned much from this.  My boys learned how a hero handles a life lived in preparation for something completely out of one's control with grace, dignity, and joy, and with extreme love and concern for everything around him. 

      Late last night, Kelly lost his battle with ALS and slipped quietly away surrounded, as he had so hoped, by his family, at home.  All these years, I knew eventually that the call would come, that the loss we would all feel would be great, but when the phone rang at midnight (never a good sign when our phone rings at that hour), and I heard the words, "Kayte, Kelly has just died and we need you to help with the arrangements, can you do that,"  I still could not register the words and what they meant...sleepiness or denial, I am not certain, but I never ever think things like this are actually going to happen, and I am never prepared.  Is anyone? 

      I always think the sensible, practical, organized side of me will instantly spring to life, but it never happens like that...I am always a little dazed and groping before saying, "Yes, yes, what do you need me to do?"   After an hour or so, things well in hand, I hung up knowing what I could do, and more frustrating, knowing what I could not do...I could not bring my boys' hero back to life. 

      Today, as I move about the motions of helping where I can, I know that I don't need to bring him back to life...that once a hero, always a hero, and that Matt and Alex will remember this man always and that his life will have affected theirs in a way that will honor his memory for as long as they live. 

      Please join me in praying for the repose of the soul of Kelly Nocco.  Please pray for his wife Donna, and their children, Scott (16), Sarah (15), and Katie (12).  And, if you are able, May is ALS awareness month, please donate $1 or $5 or $10 or $100 or whatever you can in Kelly's memory.  http://www.alsa.org/  Thank you...your donation makes you a hero, too. 

      Rest in Peace, Kelly, you will be dearly missed by us all.

The Market Bag Addiction Continues

      My goodness, these Tuesday craft days at the Table come around quickly each week.  I made three more market bags...for Shelley, Karen, and Susan as they expressed so sweetly how much they really would love to have one.  Shelley's was the pastel color combination of the one I made for The Lovely Tess last week. The ones for Karen and Susan are like this one pictured at the right...a blue, purple, turquoise, pink combination that I just loved working with and may need to make one in that color combo for myself.  Yep, may need to do that.  The handles on these bags are different as I did a little experimenting and decided I liked the way these carried better for Karen and Susan's bags for the way they wanted to use them.  Who knew I would be able to alter and adjust a pattern and have it turn out?  It just gets better and better, I tell you.  Love it, love it.

      I am also working on the golf club head covers, but do not have one completely finished yet, so that will need to wait for a peek next week. 

       The second photo here is of Meg and Sunny today at Book-It.  Meg had entered the dishcloth giveaway (and I couldn't give one to Meg without giving one to her sister, right?), so I wrapped them up all girly-like and gave them to them today.  They were so thrilled...this is my very favorite thing about Meg and Sunny...they are the sweetest things going, always respectful, fun, and always so appreciative of anything that comes their way.  Truly, very sweet always.  I think it took Meg about 10 minutes to talk herself into opening the package as she kept saying, "Oh, I just love a package, and it is so pretty I hate to rip it open."  (Me, too...I am always that way with a package.)