Ballet

Since Mike has been busy with Morgan learning how to calibrate yield monitors, laying a hardwood floor in our foyer, attending football games, doing Sunday School lessons, and the list goes on....... I thought I'd put in a little blurb about what Alex and Brenna are now up to. We have entered a new phase in the McKay household entitled "Ballet." This is definitely very different for Mike who enjoys things with "balls." Brenna's dream is to grow up to be a ballerina, which is awfully hard for someone who has never taken a class! Alex comes home from art class many times showing us ballet moves Ms. Lavingette has taught a few of the interested girls if they are done early with their current project. A few weeks ago we saw where a former West Central Elementary teacher who did ballet for many years was having registrations in Winamac for fall classes. We decided to let the girls try it at least this semester. As the teacher is due with her second child the end of November, it is a short series this fall. So far, they are both enjoying it very much and seem to be catching on quickly. Makayla is taking classes with them also. If anyone is interested, their recital will be Saturday, November 17.

Unpost of previous posting which was posted

I had an entry up yesterday, but I decided to take it down. Sorry, loyal readers. I'll work something up tomorrow. West Central plays Winamac tonight and I'm taking Drew and two of his friends to the game, then we're going to Coffee House at the church afterwards. Fun will be had by all.

This is short and worthless, but it's mostly to explain why the blog is gone that some of you may have read yesterday.

Getting Involved

They grow up fast, don't they?

Allow me that cliche', friends. It's in reference to my four little children, who aren't so little any more. As blogged previously, I took Hot Wife and The Octopus to Chicago last Friday night. We had to sort of hustle back Saturday morning because Drew had a team in a 3-on-3 tournament at the Francesville Fall Festival. He had a team last year that wasn't very competitive, so he put a little more thought into assembling this team and had high hopes that this team would do better. I say "sort of hustle" because we left the hotel around 8:00 or so. While that isn't early, it's about 4 hours earlier than we would have preferred.

On a side note that isn't too far off the path here, let me take a minute to say that Drew is a great kid. I'm entitled to brag a little bit here because he's nothing like me at all. He got a few of his interests from me, but beyond that he's pretty much a carbon copy of Valerie, which is a good thing. He was one of two students in his class to get straight A's all the way through elementary school. He was student of the month in every grade, and two teachers told us they saved his award for the month that received special recognition. His teachers routinely asked Drew to befriend new students, as well as students who are sort of difficult--all you teachers out there know the ones I'm talking about. Drew is also one of the top athletes in his grade, at least to this point. He's the point guard on the basketball team, and when they had a 5th grade spring football team, he scored a 75 yard touchdown the first time he touched the ball. He was by far and away the best pitcher in his baseball team this summer as well. He's popular with the ladies, but so far he thinks they all have cooties...which I'm pleased with! I know that will change in time, but we'll ride this for as long as we can. Everything I like to do he enjoys as well, which is a tremendous blessing. We're both into sports, woodworking, kayaking, reading, Purdue football, and White Sox baseball. The only rooting difference we have is that I root for The Beloved Bear, but Drew is a Saints guy because his favorite player is Drew Brees. I can definitely respect that. So all in all, he's a good little dude.

Drew's 3-on-3 team did better than last year's squad, but they came up a little short. It was a double elimination tournament, and they won two games before getting knocked out. I included a few shots of him in action. You will also notice that Drew was dead tired after he finished playing. He fell asleep with Braden in his arms while we were headed home, and he took about a two hour nap as soon as we got there. (By the way, for those of you who are wondering why Braden is not in his car seat, this is my defense: we went to the Fall Festival straight from Chicago, and the back was full of lathe and accessories. We seldom, seldom, seldom take Braden anywhere out of his seat; in this case I took back roads all the way home. Please don't send the Bad Men after me.)

On to Alex' involvement in the Festival. She is in a singing group at school, and they sang Sunday afternoon. If this blog wasn't taking me so long to do (I'm watching the Beloved at the same time I'm writing this) I would include a side note on Alex too. She too is a wonderful little girl, very sweet and very responsible...unless you include keeping her room clean in there. My mom was down over the weekend, and I'm sure she was horrified at the girls' room! There's a shot of Alex singing included here.

I called this entry "Getting Involved" because Drew and Alex are both getting more involved in things all the time. They have to make choices, and we certainly don't allow them to be involved in everything they would like to do, but we're getting to that stage. Drew will be heavily into sports, whereas my guess is that Alex will lean more towards the music and drama-type things. She likes volleyball and basketball, so she may do those things too. Please, God, just keep her away from cheerleading!

Thank you for reading my little blog.

Let's Go Green

I am a big fan of the Chicago White Sox.

Whewww, I said it. It's finally out. And allow me to add that I cannot stand the Chicago Cubs. I would like nothing better than to see them lose 12 straight here...just absolutely go down in flames like the bunch of flamers they are. I hope they lose the NL Central by 10 games. For those of you poor souls out there who say, "I root for both the Cubs and the White Sox," I say phooey on you. Do you root for both Hilary (that's the root word for hilarious) Clinton and Mike Huckabee? Do you root for both Lex Luthor and Superman? Do you root for both God and Satan? Do you root for both Jerry Seinfeld and Newman? C'mon here, make a decision! No fence-sitting for me--I'm a Sox guy.

In 2005 it was fun to be a Sox fan, you know? People were even jumping in the bandwagon, riding the coattails of the real fans just like the White Sox were riding the right arms of Jose Contreras and Jon Garland. This year...not so much. They're about the worst team in baseball. But I'll tell 'ya this, boys and girls--it's still fun to go to the ballpark!

Friday night was Halfway to St. Pattie's Day at the old ballpark. In honor of the day, the boys in black wore their green uniforms...my personal favorites. In case you wonder why in Sam Hill the Sox would wear green uniforms, it is due to the fact that Chicago's history is heavily influenced by the Irish. I know this to be true because my brother is a history teacher, and therefore I'm not allowed to make up historical events or facts. I've been wearing a green Sox hat with the shamrock for several years. In fact, my old hat went stinky so I bought a new one at the ballpark back on my birthday. People often see it and attempt to mock me. "The White Sox don't wear green, you idiot." Sometimes I let them know otherwise, but often I just let it go. Best not to have a battle of wits with the unarmed.

Valerie and I left home mid-morning on Friday to head up Chicago way. On the way we made a few stops (she bought Drew and I a mini-lathe so we can begin making all of our Christmas presents!...at least that's the plan), but we made it to the Big Windy mid-afternoon. We stayed at the Palmer House Hilton...that's right, kids...22nd floor...executive level. You know how sometimes you can't really afford to do something, but you just really want to do it anyway? This is an example of that. Never having stayed anywhere near downtown before--in fact, I rarely get anywhere north of Comiskey Park or west of the Dan Ryan--it was fun to enjoy a little swank.

We took the Red Line to the ballpark ($2 each--that's the way to go) and I gotta tell you, there is just nothing in life quite like walking through the tunnel and emerging into the bright sunshine of a beautiful baseball stadium. Stories don't always have a happy ending, but this one does! The Sox won 5-3 behind the solid pitching of Jose Contreras and the Big Wide Guy (remember Ozzie calling for Jenks at the end of WS '05 Game 1?). Big Jim Thome is sitting on 499 home runs and we were hoping to see #500, but alas, he struck out twice instead. So it wasn't a perfect evening, but it was close. The brats were hot and the sauercraut was tasty.

My mom came from Columbus to watch the three older ones, which was much appreciated. Dad is healing nicely from his hip replacement so she was able to get away for a night. She took the kiddies to Pizza Hut and they had a good time.

I hope you enjoyed this installment of The McKay Chronicles.

Thank you, Kevin

This post is a tribute to my great and good friend, Uncle KeKe. My faithful readers--and even those who only check this thing once in a blue moon (particularly since I'm only posting about that often any more, although I have taken steps that should correct that issue)--have probably noticed a Kevin that has posted a comment to virtually every entry. This is my most faithful reader, and it was he who encouraged me to think about doing this thing because he wanted to follow along with The Big Trip. This one's for you, big guy.

Uncle KeKe is one of those people you don't meet very often. Not only is he a Christian man in a heathen world, but he's also a genuinely good teacher. In my experience as a Highly Qualified Teacher, I came to believe good people who are also good teachers are a rarity. Oh, there are lots of teachers who say they are good, and there are a few more who probably think they are good, but we're suffering from a shortage of truly good teachers: those faithful few who teach something worth learning, know what they are talking about, and have a real (as opposed to pretending--just saying it, all the while knowing it isn't true) interest in seeing kids succeed, both in their class and in the larger classroom of experience. The technology department at The Valley is chock full of guys who meet those qualifications, but none of them have the connection with kids that Uncle KeKe does. Thank you, Unc! Keep fighting the good fight, and don't forget that it's okay to throw your weight around when change is needed. You're the Golden Child, and they need you there!

Three fotos today (dropped a little Spanish on you there). The first two are the new counter we have in our office here at good old Timm Services/Fulmer Seed and Service. Those pictures find themselves in this post for two reasons: first, because I thought everyone might enjoy seeing where Hot Wife and I work (note the distinct lack of students, administrators, and passing periods); and second, because we bought it from Uncle KeKe and he wants to see what it looks like in the office. It really only sort of works in the office because it's so fancy! But we like it, the guys like it, and it serves its purpose. We needed something that would give a guy a place to stand and write his check (that's important around here...), a place to have some candy in a glass jar, and something that would at the same time allow us to have our stuff handy but not be in the way of the other two things. Thanks, Unc, it works well and the price was right.

The third picture is The Octopus. I heard a little squeal from him today and, upon walking into the meeting room of our office, found him sitting in the Longaberger basket, playing with the kitty, and enjoying a bottle. He wasn't stuggling to get out...he just enjoyed relaxing for a few minutes then want along his merry way! He's a funny little guy.

FYI--Hot Wife and I will be gone tomorrow, so don't expect us to show up at your bar mitzvah. While The Big Trip occurred during our anniversary, there were too many urchins around to really consider it an anniversary trip. So we're going to The Home of The Greatest Team Ever in the morning to spend a night at the Palmer House Hilton (Tower level...oolala), catch a ballgame (Halfway to St. Pattie's Day game!--green uniforms), and tear up the shops. Victoria's Secret, here I come! That gal ain't got many secrets left, ya know what I mean?

Green, huh?

I dang near forgot what this blog looked like. The whole posting every day thing...yeah. Not gonna happen. But I'll do my most bestest (y'all from KV know where that came from...Phearless) to keep this thing current enough that at least a few of you will check back in occasionally!

So I've been about three weeks on the New Job, and I would summarize the difference between what I'm doing now and what I used to do in this manner: "Aaaaaah. That's better." It's a lot like when you put on a pair of new shoes, then go walk 20 miles on a difficult trail. At best, your feet hurt like a mother. At worst, amputation would be a blessing. But then, eventually, at the end of the trail you sit down, unlace the boots, and peel them off your feet. The feeling as your toes uncrimp themselves and you can breath again is one of immediate relief. That's how it is for me, beloved readers. Eleven years at The Valley. Oi. To be fair, it's not all peaches and cream on the new job. My desk is small, and the location chosen for me is in the Crapper Corner. The most astute among you will know that I chose those petty things to indicate that there's pretty much nothing about the New Job I don't like. The biggest differences between what I was doing and what I'm doing now:

1. No more of the foolish, cowardly, blown-about-by-the-slightest-breeze leadership that is dragging KV to the bottom of the cesspool right now

2. Not a single tattooed, pierced, underwear-showing, profanity-spouting, cellphone-using, gangbanger-wannabe around the office

3. While I do my best to put in my office time and work my way through the extensive to-do list I generated for myself as well as the one that Gene put together for me, it is an indescribable blessing to be free from an outwardly-imposed schedule. I took Valerie's van to the shop today in Winamac (Jeff's Tire & Alignment--Jeff does great work; how's that for a shameless plug?) at 9:00 and was able to wait for him to get it done. We spent probably 30 minutes visiting while one of his guys worked on our brakes. I didn't have to take a sick day or a personal day or whatever to do it, either. I LOVE having a free schedule. This is a slow time of the year for us in the crop insurance business, although that will change very soon as more guys start shelling corn.

I had lunch with the guys at KV today, and it was weird to be back in the building. It was almost like the old darkeness settled over me as soon as I walked back in the building. I enjoyed visiting with the guys, the spicy chicken salad sandwiches Tater brought in were great, and I used the Tormek to sharpen all three of my hand planes. But as soon as those things were accomplished, I couldn't wait to get the heck out of Dodge. I pray God's blessings upon Kevin K, Kevin S, Kevin M, Paul, Jeff Me, Jeff Ma, Ron, Ryan, Bill, DJ, and all my other buddies, cause KV is not an easy place to work. It's an even harder place to work for teachers who actually have a desire to see their kids grow and learn--which many teachers do not, but all of those guys do. There are lots and lots of "teachers" who are doing nothing more than putting in their time. Worksheet, worksheet, worksheet. A shame for the kids.

I threw in a few gratituous pictures of the family at the Holidome in Indy. We went there straight from Maine and had a great time. Erika and her family, Jess and her family, and G&M joined Clan Mackay for a rollicking good time.

The first picture is Martha with Makayla (Jess & Morgan's oldest; Makayla and Brenna are absolute best of buds), and the second picture is Brenna going down a slide.

More later, muchachos.