I am so excited to see Al Gore's new doc The Inconvenient Truth ... Katie, I know it opened in NYC last weekend, did you catch it?

So how has everyone spent the holiday weekend? Will and I were at the lake at my dad's house doing all the usual things. Will is still at it tonight. He is at a cookout with Wade but I am just beat from too much sun and activity. The war in Iraq has been on my mind all day today. I hate this war and I want us out of there. It is so frustrating when you are ruled by a dictator errr I mean President who does not listen to others and thinks he is being instructed by God. I feel so helpless b/c we are left to his vision which is killing our soldiers and their citizens. So on this Memorial Day I want to send out my thanks and appreciation to the soldiers who are serving in Iraq. I can't even imagine a typical day serving in Iraq and I am feeling embarrassed for ever complaining about anything. Any-who ... happy to be an American and all that ... hope to hear your Memorial Day adventures. Peace Out

Fresh Water vs. Salt Water

You know, I really like a good body of fresh water too. The beach and the sea and the ocean, in order to be enjoyed, one has to toss aside all those experiences in fresh water, the whole clean feeling of fresh water and give into the sand in the shorts, salt dried on a sunburnt forehead and all the ingredients of a beach day that are unavoidable. That's the only way it really can be enjoyable. You must sit ont eh beach without a towel and then roll in the sand. Cover yourself with sand. Fill your britches with the stuff. Give in.

I think a spring in the tropics, on an island, with a waterfall, and blue clear water would be about the most pleasent type of water. There was that stream that we followed up the hill in Mexico, when we were out with that crazy German guy, and how fresh was that after swimming to shore from the boats floating in the pacific.

I remember the summer that Jesse and Ben came for a visit. We had that house near Dripping Springs. Katie was working at TCC and we had the race to the buoy. They came and we were swinging into the lake on that rope. They hadn't ever been in fresh water except for a pool. They immeadiately prefered the lake.

I love the smell of salt water. I like the smell of the docks in Italy, in Bulgaria, in Hong Kong, Alaska, Istanbul, Amorgos and Naxos and San Francisco. The sun hits the basket of fish and there's something like the scent of labor in it. Wet rope stretching and wringing and snapping drops of water off as a ferry tries to drift away, only to understand it is tied.

I want to go to the poconos one day. For just the day, on a coincidental occassion in which we're passing through, or by. I think that would be ultimate fresh water.

My Summer Favorites

I'm a little late on this entry, and this doesn't mean that I've been thinking of the super greatest things that could be written here. I've just been lazy about the blog.

So, my favorite summer activity is swimming, swimming with people, swimming deep under the lake and touching toes, swimming around a dock and make my where abouts so nobody knows. I like swimming in my pool, with Michelle, and in the night now that I have a light.

Another favorite activity is just sitting, listening to the wind. That is what I'm doing now, in the coolest part of the daylight. Nobody else is awake except for the fishermen, and they're a long way away down on the dock.

Summer Tradition: There are a lot of things that we do in the summer that we don't do in the winter, there are days like memorial day during the summer that have tradition around them, so I'd say, going to the lake, at some point during the summer, is a good tradition, and opening the swimming pool, and getting a little sun. I would say going out of town, getting away, going to the beach, but I haven't been to the beach for years.

Favorite summer drink: I would have to say a gin and tonic with a dash of orange juice. I like that drink but I don't drink it too much. I could switch the gin for vodka, but won't for a while due to recent events. Of course I like a tall cold glass of beer too.

Favorite Big Blockbuster: This summer I am looking foreward to almost no movies except the Xmen. The only reson that this is the only movie that I am looking forward to is because Michelle is looking forward to it and I will get to sit by her in the dark, in the two handicap seats up front where we belong. Otherwise I don't know about any blockbuster movies coming out. Past favorite blockbusters have all but left me unimpressed... but recently we saw Munich. I don't know when that came out but it seems like it was last summer. I liked it quite a bit. And Devil's Miner... just watched it now.

Favorite Summer Meal: More and more I think it's Tabooli... How do you spell that? Sausages on the grill; steak on the grill! Greek Salad.

Fav Summer Beach Reading: Hemingway. Something short.

Fav Beach Activities: Swimming in the ocean. Walking along.

Fav Summer Music: Usually whatever is playing. I let other people handle the music. Today I listened to Jimmy Smith. I like him.

Favorite Summer Destination: Back Yard, indeed. Beaches, lakes, water.

Fav Summer Memory: Michelle's legs in her white dress in my car while going to get more beer for the Artsy-Fartsy people. Summer of '90 and '91, and Alaskan Summers. Norman in the summer. Nude girls on Mangalia Beach. Sun burns and my blistery nose.

Will and I just watched a wonderful doc that I wanted to recommend called "The God Who Wasn't There." No matter how you feel about religion it is a really interesting look at the historic evidence or lack there behind the bible. If anyone happens to watch it let me know so we can chat about it. Any one seen anything I should add to my que?

Immigration Reform

Does anyone have an opinion on Immigration reform?

This is one of those issues that I kind of waffle on depending on the argument I'm hearing.

I do firmly believe that immigrants are needed in this country to do the jobs that Americans don't want to do like working in Chicken Houses and on Hawg farms.

I guess every day is Mother's Day.....

What can I say? A picture speaks a hundred words about this trip I'm taking. It'll be heavenly I know...but I will miss the 'thrill a minute' atmosphere we enjoy here in Tulsa. Each day has its ups & downs and keeps us on our toes. I hope things go smoothly for CCMCO in my absense. If things go really well, I'll just stay in Venice. Love you all, Mom

Two of my favorite summer things ...

Fav summer activity: taking naps in the sun, cleaning up after a long day in the sun, watching emma swim, watching the Will & Bergan show at the lake

Fav summer tradition: watching movies at the movie theater in Vinita

Fav summer drink: lemonade, cherry limeaide, orange slushes from Sonic and of course BIRTHDAY CAKE SHAKES!!!!!

Fav big blockbuster summer movie: (in this order) Spiderman 2, X-Men, Spiderman, X2 and I can't wait for X-Men: The Last Stand this summer

Fav summer meal: salad, tomato slices with sugar sprinkled on top, rhubarb pie,

Fav summer beach reading: Bergdorf Blondes and The Debutante Divorcee both by Plum Sykes, Elements of Style by Wendy Wasserstein, The Right Address by Carrie Karasyov

Fav beach activities: sitting in the sea water with a book letting the salt water cure any cuts or skin issues, laying out with an ipod, people watching, hopefully taking Champ and Attie to the beach some day

Fav summer music: Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, Esquivel, Neil Young, Ben Folds Five

Fav summer destination: my backyard, dad's house in FL, gym, anywhere on a summer night

Fav summer memory: Meeting Will, 4th of July weekend 2001, http://www.cocodimama.com (from our honeymoon), laying out at the hotel pool in Cuba becoming obsessed with a large, beautiful German family, going to Florida with my dad, a dinner outside at the Wild Fork with Will and Champ (pre-Attie days)

Summer fun, part 2...

Fav summer activities: Grand Lake; swimming anywhere with little blond kids. Listening to "Marco-Polo" for hrs.!

Fav summer tradition: Megan's birthday parties; Grand Lake: Firefly, watching kids learn to water ski. Back-to-school shopping: Trippets, Renberg's, Katie & Megan's obsession with school supplies...

Fav summer drink: water

Fav summer movie: even though the French didn't like it, Da Vinci Code will probably be my favorite; Star Wars, 1: Megan's first movie in her infant seat at age 3 weeks.

Fav meal: fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions...grilled chicken, potato salad.

Fav summer reading: Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, read when I was teaching. Harry Potter; The Blind Assasin; The Poisenwood Bible.

Fav beach activity: just laying around watching little blond kids.

Fav Summer Music: from my youth: all Motown dancing songs, including: Twist & Shout, anything Marvin Gaye, Supremes; Fleetwood Mac: specifically, Stevie Nicks singing with Don Henley: something about a woman asking a man to come and share her house...pretty cool.

Fav destination: Well, since I've overused Grand Lake, I will say: Santa Fe, which has great summer memories; Carmel, Big Sur; New England: Cape Cod; Myrtle Beach; Ocean City, Maryland, where I met your dad. Taking kids to New Life Ranch. Driving to Colorado colleges with Megan & Katie.

Fav summer memories: mtg. Tom on 4th of July weekend, 1968; summer trips from HK, when we came home and stayed a while; the first Europe trip with W & M; partying in the back yard on Troost; TCC;that trip to NY when we lived in HK. We saw Starlight Express; rode into NYC in a limo; went out to the Statue of Liberty. GIFAS and the trips afterwards; Berg Else with Katie; Cologne; Amsterdam and the pigeons; Madame Tuesand's Wax Museum: Katie especially loved Indiana Jones.

In the SummerTime..............

Favorite Summer Activity. Probably swimming. From the time I was born to now I love it.

Summer Tradition: Going to Grand lake. Walks in the evening with Jesse. Catching Fireflies.

Summer Drink: Pina Colada (although I don't indulge really in Tulsa. Only on Vacay.) Light beer, cherry limeades from Sonic.

Blockbuster Summer Movie: HMMMMMMMMM I'm not sure on this one. I remember seeing Legally Blonde in the summer and being pleasently surprised. Was Dirty Dancing a summer blockbuster b/c I luv that movie.

Summer Meal: Salad, Gazpacho.

Summer Beach Reading: Don Quixote (I'm having trouble getting started) That book is huge. I read One Flew over the Cuckoos nest the summer I went to France and loved it. Self Help of some sort prob., some non-fiction by Diane Ackerman about Cultivating Delight (Heard her on NPR) and magazines.

Beach Activities: Collecting shells. I, like Katie, am not the hugest fan of going to the beach and lying out there. There are exceptions and these of course are Tahiti where everything was heaven and being at the beach at dusk when there is a breeze off the water and you can walk without the hot sun and sticky sand and salty water clinging to you and making you itchy and rashy.

Summer Music: In the Summertime by Mungo Jerry is definitely a summer favorite (If her Daddy's rich take her out for a meal, if her daddy's poor just do what you feel. Bomp bomp bomp Chhh, Bomp bomp bomp Chhh) and I have to say Classic Rock, b/c it reminds me of those summer days when Amanda would pick me up in the Jeep and we would like drive to Chandler park just because we didn't have anything else to do. And then we would stop at Sonic for a Cherry Limeade just cuz. Ahhhhh, those were the days. And we were into Cream and Yes and the Grateful Dead. Primal Scream is also some of my fave summer music.

Summer Destination. The pool. Grand Lake.

Summer Memory. There are too many, but going to Grand was always awesome. Summer time at Jesse and my rent house was fun. Grilling out and making everyone eat outside except that our backyard was infested with Mosquitos and Brent and Nick got bites on their faces. (woops.) The dinner party where we ate outside in the back was also a lot of fun.

There is also that one particular summer between my Jr. and Sr. year of high school that everyone I know remembers as one of the best summers ever. Just lots of energy between the boys and girls and carefree days and nights.

favorite summer activities, part 1.

I'm buried at work (hee-hee...) and so can only do a few of the favorites...

This picture reminds me one one of my favorite vacations, even tho this wasn't actually the favorite part...remember, Katie??? Hysterical?? In France...

Favorite place on earth: Grand Lake, of course...nothing can top my dirty little lake...this year the styrofoam has broken loose from somewhere and I have thousands of little pieces and even parts of docks floating into my little cove...but, I love the view anyway....it has something to do with the memories....

I'll finish later...

It's summer and time for a round of summer fours ... anyone, anyone?

Fav summer activity:
Fav summer tradition:
Fav summer drink:
Fav big blockbuster summer movie:
Fav summer meal:
Fav summer beach reading:
Fav beach activities:
Fav summer music:
Fav summer destination:
Fav summer memory:

I'm speechless...

Thank you so much for my special Mother's Day....it meant a lot to me for you to join me at Rebos and sit through Howard's tale...and not even mention it afterwards. Isn't he a trip? And who in the world gave that man an hour????

I have so much to be thankful for.....and those blessings are Will, Michelle, Megan, Jesse and Katie...and don't think that I don't have a grateful heart for all of you. Every day I thank God many times for you. And always with a smile on my face as I recall favorite memories....kindnesses, gestures, conversations and antics....a mom's favorite pastime is remembering with pleasure the delightful memories her kids have allowed her. And, in my case, the memories of the pleasure that each of you brought Tom. He loved you all more than anything in the world. Thank God you all were so close to him...and enjoyed him so much...you gave him a happy life....

What more can any of us ask for? Lovely children...lovely memories....the pleasure of spending time together, building relationships and loyalty and love.........

I love the pink candle... and the Lady Primrose...and seeing you, Katie, last weekend...

the case for limp handshakes...

I'm going to try my best to connect the title of this blog to the posted picture...but since it's mother's day, I'm really feeling a little poetic license is due me....you see, the truth is that sometimes you have these feelings for people...and they may even be the kind of people who would hide in your refrigerator, eat all the good stuff and scare you when you open the door. It's a tricky, sicky personality disorder.

I'm in a 12-step for this problem and will work through it in time. No need to worry....all is well and will be well. The sickness has no cure, but is treatable with lots of attention, patience and steely blue eyes...watch and see.........

Bon au revoir Ronger

The man that Champ was named after, Floyd "Champ" Patterson died today. He was one tough dude ... which looking back I am not really sure why we named Champ after him. I guess we really did not know his personality yet. If I were going to name Champ today it would be after someone more like Christopher Lowell

Exclusively at Wal Mart

I LOVE the Magnolia! I used to stay there when my dad and Marg would take me on Dallas weekends (oh those sweet 20 & 30-something single days) and then Will and I stayed there the last time we were there. It's somewhat hip with a lack of pretention. Why on EARTH was the event held in the little girls department? That is so funny ... what was the turn out like? In a true show of unity I was in the WalMart clothing department this weekend where I picked up a $6.00 dress that I am sporting today. Did Squash and Sue browse the ladieswear? Ol' Wally is starting to wake up where clothing is concerned! ...and again Viva la WalMart! Katie ... I read in New York Magazine sometime ago that WalMart was coming to your neck of the woods ... has the happened yet?

I was a mom with her chickies...

The Dallas weekend was great! We covered an amazing
amount of territory, but accomplished very little. I think that's why it was so satisfying. We did manage to skulk a little at the Walmart, in the girl's clothing department...which, surprisingly, is where the T. D. Jakes event was held. Katie was at the peak of efficiency!! A good time was had by all.

Megan booked us into a suite at the Magnolia Hotel and, except for the directionally challenged concierge, it was perfect. We all had our oppurtunity at getting lost, and, by golly, we took full advantage of it!!

We missed all of you other McKee's and Harris's....next time, you'll have to join us...

I'm thinking of this weekend with a smile upon my face...

Can't help but be very happy that Megan & I will soon be in Lancaster, TX visiting a book event at the local Walmart...ordinarily, this would seem an odd spot to spend Sat. afternoon. We agree. But we would go to any length to have a viewing of our Katie......we'll actually get to see the family dynamo in action! Have a great weekend, everyone............