Found in Fishers

Congrats #299!

There were 415 in the Class of 2008 at Hamilton Southeastern High School. This afternoon they gathered along with about 5,000 of their closest family members and friends for the 41st Annual Commencement in the Pepsi Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. We were there for graduate #299...Liz. Because Liz actually finished classes in December and began taking college classes during what would have been the Spring semester at HSE, we thought today wouldn't carry with it all of the emotion that many normally experience at high schol graduations. We were wrong. Even Liz admitted to getting a bit teary during parts of the ceremony, and while our little girl isn't little any more, Mom and Dad couldn't help but feel that a major life transition was formally acknowledged as Liz crossed the stage and received her diploma.

The coliseum was a great venue for two reasons: 1) It's air conditioned and made even cooler by the fact that under the floor is ice. The coliseum is home to the Indiana Ice. 2) The place has 8,500 seats so there is plenty of room for everyone. We were there in plenty of time to stake out great seats and relax. Vendors outside the coliseum were selling pop and snacks, which entertained Liz's cousin, Liam, who graduated kindergarten earlier in the week. While some high school graduations seem to go on forever Liz's was kept to just 80 minutes, not bad for more than 400 gards along with all the usual speech making. HSE's choir, orchestra, and Wind Ensemble did a remarkable job providing fine music for the event.

With her graduation party and commencement now in the history books, its on to the next phase for Liz. What that will exactly look like she's not entirely sure right now, which is just fine. At 19, it's hard to know what one wants to do. Besides, the notion of holding the same job for 20 or 30 years went out the window a long time ago. Our wish for Liz is happiness, joy and peace; what that looks like for her will be up to her. Congraulations, Liz!

Silly Sally

Juan decided that Buddy and Sally needed some toys of their own. At Costco they had some really cute animals for dogs to play with. Buddy got a little brown dog and Sally a cute white lamb. Although Buddy likes to play fetch with stuffed animals, Sally prefers her rope. Neither really like the new animals as much. Buddy has taken some of the stuffing out of his animal but Sally just carries her lamb around the house.

It is not that Sally particularly likes the lamb. She is protective of it however and will not let Buddy touch it. She carries the lamb around the house only when she thinks Buddy might want it. Really, Buddy has zero interest in it.

I was out grilling on the deck when Sally came outside with the lamb in her mouth. She walked around the deck and even went potty with the lamb. I went in the house to grab a plate and when I returned Sally was sitting on the deck stairs guarding the area. No lamb in her mouth but dirt on her nose. I asked her where the lamb went and she walked to the corner of the dog run and dug the lamb out of the clay and rocks.

We laughed so hard! How funny is that. Hiding the lamb from Buddy.

Race day!

We were just a couple of faces in a crowd of more than 300,000 this afternoon taking in the action of the 92nd Indy 500. After arriving in Lot 2 more than five hours before the start of the race -- and having to sit around another 3 plus hours afterward to get out of the lot -- one might wonder if the hassle and cost is worth it. Arguably, the best seat in the house is just that: A seat at home in front of the TV. But so much of what makes the 500 the greateast spectactle in racing can only be experienced at the track. From the standing and prolonged ovation given by the crowd to members of the military who marched down pit lane before the start of the race to Jim Nabors singing Back Home Again In Indiana, the sights, sounds and smells of the track is what makes Indy Indy. The fly-over by F-16s, the balloon release and those famous words, "Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!" make the hassles of race day worth the effort. There's nothing like Indy in May.

If you watched the race on the tube (we recorded it for later viewing) you know the outcome and saw the drama. Mark and I again brought along a scanner and headsets so that we could listen to drivers and their crews during the race. We were directly across from Sarah Fisher's pit and if you haven't followed her story throughout May, then it's nearly impossible to imagine what it was like when the field pulled away for the parade lap and there in the middle of the starting grid sat Fisher. We watched in horror as A.J. Foyt IV's car (also across from our seats) erupted in flames after pulling out of his pit box. While he went 19 laps down, Foyt did finish the race. Personally we were cheering for Helio or Tony Kanan, but it was neat to see Dixon dominate the entire month of May and bring it home with a win.

Because racing stats are important, here are ours: Tickets and parking $200. One t-shirt: $22. Liquid refreshment: 4 quarts of Gatorade, 10 Diet Cokes and 6 bottles of water. Three foot-long subs from Kroger were sacrificed in our honor, as were 10 pieces of fried chicken and assorted chips. Hey, it was a long day and we were hungry. Tomorrow morning I'll be online to renew our tickets for the 93rd running and will again question my sanity: Is the cost and time worth the effort? And next year I'll arrive home again sun burned and tired from a long day at the track. So come on down to Fishers next Memorial Day weekend and experience the electricty yourself by being another face in the crowd at the world's largest single sporting event. Besides, we have extra beds. And for those who wonder what Flora was up to: She took in a movie and wandered the new mall with a friend...and enjoyed a day of freedom from her two boys.

Time to start those engines

At 6 a.m. today, downtown Indy was quiet except for a handful of volunteers -- myself among them -- preparing the route for the 500 Festival Parade. All that carpet and the banners on both sides of the TV zone...yep, I helped put it up...and take it down when the parade was over. We also moved hundreds of barricades to block streets and zipped more zip ties than any one person should ever have to handle in a lifetime. This was my third year volunteering with the logistics crew, and while it's a lot of work, we get the best seat in the house for the parade. A quarter-million folks lined the parade route; it was a sell out again this year. And it took 7,000 volunteers to help make it happen.

Some of the day's highlights: Jim Nabors is back this year and he got a huge ovation from those along the parade route. There's something missing on race day when Back Home Again in Indiana isn't sung by Nabors. Dancing With the Stars favorites Julianne Hough and Helio Castronevez were on hand; Helio starts on the inside of row 2, while Hough will sing the National Anthem on race day. She performed at the beginning of the parade this afternoon with the Indianapolis Children's Choir. Governor Daniels rode his Harley in the parade and there were more celebrities on hand than you could shake a stick at.

In about six hours, Mark and I will ice down the coolers and head for the track. The forecast calls for sunny skies with a high of 81. We successfully moved our seats after two years of being completed exposed to the elements: Last year was rain, the year before that 90-degree plus heat. For tomorrow's 92nd Indy 500 we'll be under cover just down from the start/finish line with a good view of turns 1 and 4 and the pits. After we get home tomorrow evening we can watch the race all over again; it's blacked out in the Indianapolis market so if you're not at the track, you have to watch it in the evening. Enjoy your Memorial Day!

I digress...or is that regress?

About 13 years ago I decided to go to a psychic party. Yep, a psychic party. Some of my friends have hosted Tupperware, Pampered Chef or Candlelite parties. But me, I went to a psychic party. At the party I met Rose, our psychic. At the time she talked about things no one could know. She didn't make general comments that would fit any scenario. She made precise comments like telling me the scar on my stomach was from stress. She also indicated that I would get a job 9 miles from my house. The following year I was at Ready School...9 miles from home. It was fun and weird at the same time. I became very interested in the psychic world and decided that I wanted to get a past life regression. Sarah, my sister, had one and said it was very interesting.

Now before you all start thinking I'm crazy, hear me out. I'm not making life-altering decisions based on some mumbo-jumbo. I am curious, however, and want to know the history of my soul. John thinks I'm nuts, but I honestly believe we are connected with some unseen energy.

Fast forward to last week. I taped Oprah as usual and she had a segment on past life regressions. Oh my, I really want to go now. However, since it was on Oprah I'm going to have to wait because half the country will be having a regression because of the show. I'm going to hook myself up with someone to do a regression soon. People say you behave the way you do based on the experiences of your soul. Because of my extreme need to follow rules, I think I might have been in jail or with someone who was severely punished for breaking rules. I also think I lived during a depressed time since I hate to spend money and must have been deprived of food. Stay posted; who knows what I will find out.

Cakes, Bowls & Bricks

If you're trying to figure out how cakes, bowls and bricks are connected...at least connected to us...let us help: Think graduation, Superbowl XLVI and the Indy's famous yard of bricks. So let's begin with graduation, as in Liz's. Liz finished high school classes last December but won't officially receive her diploma until May 31 when Hamilton Southeastern High School holds its annual commencement at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. This past Sunday, we all headed up north to Highland and Langel's Pizza (the gold standard by which all Indy-area pizzarias are measured) for her graduation party. It was great seeing old friends and former neighbors, and having a chance to catch up with one another. Of course Liz enjoyed seeing everyone, too, but she also liked opening those envelopes on the way home. For our part it was great not having to clean house, paint any rooms, or mow the yard. We let the folks at Langel's handle all the real work, and they did a super job.

While Liz's graduation is big news in our house, the big news in Indy this week was the announcement that the NFL selected the Circle City as home to Superbowl XLVI in 2012. With the new Lucas Oil Stadium under roof and rapidly nearing completion the one-time sleepy little Naptown will be party central come February 5, 2012. Indy has big plans in the works including a Superbowl village that will extend north from the circle all the way to the new stadium and include giant fire pits to keep fans warm. According to the NFL, is was Indy's "legacy project" that capped it for the city: A $9 million indoor practice facility that will be turned over to Indianapolis Public Schools after the Superbowl.

And speaking of super, Juan and Mark will make their annual trek to Speedway to watch the Indy 500 on Sunday. They're hoping for a bright, sunny day so that they can enjoy their new seats that are under cover almost right across from the famous yard of bricks at the start/finish line. Two years ago they baked in 90-degree sunshine and last year got drenched. On Saturday morning, Juan will be at work downtown helping prepare the TV zone for the 500 Festival parade. He's done this the past two years and gets one of the best seats in the house. The downside: The logistics crew he voluteers on gets started at 6 a.m. Welcome race fans!

Hello out there!

Sorry it's been so long since we blogged. I was swamped with projects last week at work and several training sessions that led to 12 and 14 hour days. Things are a bit slower this week so I have some free evenings to blog.

What a busy time of year. We are getting ready for Liz's graduation, Mark is busy with driver's ed, went camping for Mother's Day weekend, trying to keep the breakfast program rolling at the high school. Whew, should I say more. After reviewing my crazy month of May and June I also decided to drop one of the two classes I was taking this summer at IUPUI. I need 2 classes to renew my license. I decided just to do one for now in late July when I hope things will be a bit slower. I have some great pictures and memories to share of the last two weeks. Most of the pictures are on Mark's cell phone so once I get them downloaded, I have plenty to share with you all.

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Ahh Spring. Well sort of. I don't really know when I wake up which season we'll experience when  we step outside. No wonder so many people are getting sick. The good news is we are closer to warmer weather than not. But I hate really hot weather, too. I spent the beautiful weekend cleaning up my gardens. The annual clean-up of the garden edges and freshening of the mulch. While outside I observed the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The good: Wow, check out my flowers! I just love working outside in the garden. I can't wait to start planting my annuals. In the meantime I'm enjoying the spring flowers. I'm glad I spent the time last fall planting all those bulbs. While outside, people stop and tell me how beautiful our gardens look.

The Bad. It's nice to see the lots around us finally starting to fill. Every lot now is either finished or under construction. We'll finally get some real neighbors. But what comes with construction is a mess in the street, nails in tires and noise at 7 a.m. each and every day...including many Sundays. They are actually framing this house in the picture already. It takes no time at all to get the houses up around here. I was outside when the new family was checking out progress on this house. A young couple with two very little preschool kids. With a 17 and almost 19 year old we're the old folks in the neighborhood. Imagine...

And the ugly. Well, I can only imagine we're on some kind of list at the Ryland corporate office. Probably because we do complain about construction workers and their shenanigans. The problem is that Juan works from home. It's not uncommon that he has to go outside and tell the workers he can hear their car radios from inside our house when all the windows are closed. One day he watched someone drive a Bobcat through our backyard creating deep trenches in the sod. The list goes on. But he promises me he didn't mention anything about the traffic and our mailbox, but look what appeared! And, we are the only house on the entire block where 5 homes are under construction at the same time with this sign. We all hope the construction will be over soon.