Independence Table Tennis Tournament

If you are interested in seeing photos taken at the Table Tennis Tournament that I ran on April 17th, you can find them on the club's blog site at http://jacomottclub.blogspot.com/

It took about four solid days of work spread out over a month to plan the tournament and get people to sign-up. The actual tournament ran from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, April 17th.

We had 36 people play in the events which was down a little from previous tournaments. I don't think I will do another one in April......people have too many things going as the weather gets better. I have always held the spring tournament in March in past years. I had four no-shows the day of the tournament and 12 who cancelled within two days of the tournament. I had to do a lot of scrambling to keep the player count up so that everyone got to play enough matches.

In the end, everyone had nothing but good comments so I am happy.

Tyler & Petra's Weekend Visit - April 9, 2010

We picked up the kids on Friday night after school. It has been months since we have seen them and it was a shock to see Tyler's long hair. The last time we saw him, he had a summer buzz cut. We have to do something with Tyler's hair. According to his mom, this is the way he wants it. We will find a way to talk him into something shorter.

This photo is Tyler eating breakfast on Saturday morning.

Petra posing for Grandma's photos.

The kids get along pretty good and truly love each other.

The big treat of the weekend was going with Tom & Gail Highland, our neighbors, to get their big RV out of storage for a trip down to Louisiana.

Tom with Tyler & Petra getting ready to drive home.

Getting a feel of the driver's seat. They really look like veteran RVer's

What a change! Tyler looks great with his new hair cut and he likes it a lot.

Dinner was at Porky's BBQ in Grain Valley, MO. Great food!! Tyler & Petra loved it and ate all their food.

Tom & Gail's RV.

Dessert after dinner on the front steps (Gail, Tyler, Petra, & Grandma Sigrid).

A really nice weekend.

Sigrid's Visit To The Missouri Capitol - April 6, 2010

It has been so long since the last post, I almost forgot how to do it.

Back on April 6th, Sigrid travelled to Jefferson City, the Capitol of the State of Missouri. Sigrid and her friend Cindy were part of the Hospice group that boarded a bus in Independence for the trip. It was "Hospice Day At The Capitol". The attendees were treated to a nice lunch and a tour of the Capitol Building. The leaders of the group were also there to do a little lobbying for the organization. If you follow our blog, then you know that Sigrid was in Topeka just a few days ago to tour the Kansas Capitol and other historic sites.

The Red Buds and Cherry blossoms were in their full glory.

All Capitols look about the same. They are all monuments to government.

Capitols are also blessed by lots of inspirational bronze sculptures.

Sigrid said that the interior of the building is very poorly lit and hard to photograph. I believe that this is part of the dome structure.

The big guys office.

Sigrid and Cindy. All the Hospice folks wore red so they would stand out.

A bust of Mark Twain

And one of Walter Cronkite......both Missourians

The Senate Chambers.

Doors leading to the Senate Chambers.

The House of Representatives.....notice all the red shirts.

The Speakers Podium.

One of many Thomas Hart Benton murals in the building. I have always been a big Benton fan. Yes..........Benton was a Missourian.

Children in period costumes visiting the Capitol.

The USS Missouri ship's bell. For those who don't remember, the USS Missouri "Mighty Mo" was the WWII battleship that the Japanese signed the surrendered documents on to end the war after the atomic bombs were dropped.

Protesters on the Capitol steps. Pick your topic.....I don't know.

More bronze.

Sigrid had a great time.

I do have more to come as soon as I get the time to put the posts together. Retirement is hell.