NFTL - RDate 10.27

Here I am, back in the lab having escaped for a couple of days from the rigors of "Hell Month" (my annual period of spring cleaning and fix-ups before the launch of our summer schedule - more to follow on this dreaded ritual in my next post). And as this is my 30th post, I'm thinking it's time for a few follow-ups from the previous 10 months. So here are this edition's NFTL (notes from the lab).

Emerging from the Cocoon (7/17/12) - I would say this blog has gone pretty much according to plan so far. I've had fun sharing some new experiences, but mostly I've been providing back story. I've begun scanning and digitally archiving the family photos which has provided material for a few pictorial blogs. I've documented several recurring events from the annual family calendar. And I've shared quite a bit about my own favored hobbies and how I think the world works. Also, so far anyway, I've been able to avoid my self-identified taboo subjects (politics, religion and sports rivalries) despite an amazingly rich (and occasionally disturbing) news year, and have to date not offended anyone (as far as I know). So I'm considering myself fully emerged and ready to tackle my next 30 posts.

Chores (7/29/12) - The most accurate statement I can make is that I've survived. But it hasn't been pretty. I am now familiar with a host of inside and outside cleaning agents and implements. Recently I had cause to browse the "Cleaning" aisle at Home Depot and was awestruck by the products there. I saw cleansers for items I didn't even know got dirty. I have settled into a tolerable routine of de-cluttering, dusting, vacuuming, mowing, edging, sweeping, raking and kitchen cleanup with an occasional intense session involving rubber gloves, scrub brushes and hoses. But I'm clinging to the notion that what doesn't kill me makes me stronger.

Music Night (8/6/12) - Still going strong. The group completed its 108th collection Couples earlier this month and will take on the theme of Made in Detroit in August. The age range of participants for Couples was 16 to 65.

The Purge (8/30/12) - Since my previous comments on this issue, the pantry redo is holding up fine (see note at the end of Reading) and a few other spaces have been processed. Among these was the back coat closet. Here are a couple of before shots.

A couple of after shots.

And a shot of the payoff - items actually "purged" and bagged, ready for the trip to the Salvation Army.

The cottage kitchen also faced a minor redo to de-clutter the counters and make room for an expanded baked-goods storage area. Here are a couple of shots of the new knotty pine shelves (re-purposed from at least two previous lives in the Burk household) that made it all possible. The first now serves as the home of the bar glassware (an important department at Wiser Times). The second has the equally valued morning coffee equipment and supplies.

And here's a shot of the resulting nearly clutter-free kitchen counter. The three-shelf upper cupboard to the far left is now empty and capable of storing enough cheese bread, coffee cake, sandwich buns and cookies for a party of a dozen or more for an extended weekend.

Next in my sights is the long-term under-stair storage area accessed through the laundry room. It hasn't been touched in about 15 years. I'm working up my nerve and looking for a rainy day or two to take the plunge.

Lunch Poetry (9/21/12) - The new Lunch Bunch is now in full swing with a mid-May outing of 11 attendees, eight of whom continued after lunch by taking in a Tigers game. Here are a couple of shots of the folks who stuck around for the game. First, from left to right - me, Joe (just behind me), Mary (lurking behind Nancy), Nancy, Cindy (my baby sister), Greg, Vicki's seat, and Steve (everyone but Vicki, who's taking the photo).

And here's Vicki, back in her seat after photo duty.

And for good measure, here's the lunch poetry invitation that got things going.

The tradition has now been renewed.

Great friends, with marginal food.

So when next we eat,

Let's dine and go greet

The Tigers, to extend the mood.

Early on the 15th of May,

The Tigers and Astros will play.

So if you are willin'

The stands to be fillin'

Please join in, what do you say?

So just to recap this plan,

It's a lunch of our fave Mex-i-can.

Then off to CoPa

With lotsa hope-a

That our Tigers play well to a man.

Next up is a planned lunch and baseball outing for the end of July. Invitation to follow in early June.

Disney (11/1/12) - Yes, we've been back. First our updated statistics:

• Number of Burk family stays at a Disney Resort - 62
• Number of days involved in the 62 stays - 274
• Number of days at least one Burk family member has visited a Disney them park - 70

The highlight of the recent visits was a family reunion with all the kids, grandkids and great grandparents this past April.  It was, of course, a gas with beautiful weather, the grandkids getting their first real slug of the theme parks (that they can remember :-), and the four generations getting a lot of together time (with the family now spread out between Michigan, New Jersey, Florida and Texas that's not as easy to do as it once was). Here are just a few memorable shots from the trip.

First, the Michigan and New Jersey Burks fire up a hotel-room happy hour the night before arrival of the Texas Burks and the check-in to Disney. From left to right - me, Nancy, daughter Christy, daughter Cathy and her fiance Matt.

Here we have a couple of shots of the group on the bus to the Magic Kingdom. First, from left to right - son Ted, daughter-in-law Sara with grandson Cyrus on her lap, granddaughter (and princess) Leili (whose 5th birthday was this day), Cathy and Matt.

And one of me on the bus in full regalia. What?

Here we are at the Magic Kingdom, on our way to Cinderella's castle for breakfast with the Disney princesses.

And the classic group photo with Cinderella herself (yes, I mean the real one).

Here are a couple of action shots on the carousel. First a girl and her mom.

And a boy and his dad.

And one of grandpa in front of his favorite attraction on what we call "the old man tour".

Here's another classic theme park shot known as the "okay, now what?" moment. This usually occurs about an hour after lunch and about six hours into the park day.

Here we are back at the Old Key West vacation home, recovering from about a 20,000 step day. This first one is during a casual happy hour moment. From left to right - Sara, me, great grandpa Wendell, great grandma Dolores, Christy, and the back of my sister Wendy's head (sorry about that).

Later we moved on to dinner with the usual kid table/adult table arrangement. That's the front of my sister Wendy's head shown in the second shot.

The grandchildren, of course, are less concerned about family traditions when at Disney. Here they are recovering from the day in their own ways, Leili by watching yet another Disney movie and Cyrus with a well-earned sofa nap.

Of course, there was time for umbrella drinks by the pool.

And a little cribbage (see the Hangin' with the Ps post from 10/19/12) .

So a great time was has by all. Here's a final shot of the birthday princess with her unicorn.

And one final update - Vans (2/26/13) - Just so you know, our transition away from full-size van conversions is now complete. Our new Traverse has proved itself a worthy successor. Here are a few shots of our transport of a new kayak from home to the cottage. The kayak fit, just barely, with the appropriate combination of folded-down seats.

Of course, this required the rest of the cargo to be packed around, under and inside of the kayak.

And my Bride had to ride in the third row (with Kody).

But there was just enough room to comfortably pilot the load so....what's the problem?

Well, that's quite enough updates for this edition of NFTL, so I'll sign off for now.

Until next time. Hope you had a happy Memorial Day.