Tastes Like Wallaby

Kansas Summer Visit

link to photoset: http://bit.ly/9OoB7e

Originally uploaded by andy_lathrop

We took a quick trip to Leavenworth to visit the Rue's last weekend!!

Summer vacation in upstate NY

link to the photoset: http://bit.ly/9j2F8c

Originally uploaded by andy_lathrop

I know we haven't blogged in a long time - but just wanted to share some photos from our trip this summer to upstate NY. We visited Micah, Keri, and Skylar in Watertown (Micah is stationed at Ft. Drum and will deploy this fall to Afghanistan). After a few days there we explored the Lake Placid area - an amazingly small town to host the winter Olympics - twice!

Mom, Octoberfest, and Rockies

posted by Andy: Here's some pics from the last couple weeks. My mom visited from Michigan for 4 days, and we had a great time - hitting some local restaurants, touring Castle Rock, and a great day at Octoberfest with the Rues and Nicole. Keri has a great post of Octoberfest here.

Kristy and I also went to the Rockies/Phillies playoff games last week. This was my first time at an MLB playoff game and, well, I can only hope the next time will be better. The first game started at 8:00 PM on a Sunday night, and tied a record for coldest playoff game EVER - below 30 for most of the game. It finished after midnight (got home around 2 am), with the Rockies closer blowing the game. The next day the Rockies blew a 2 run lead in the 9th. It felt like a bad dream - everyone was tired and cranky and it all ended so fast after a great season. I have a new approach to supporting sports teams. After being a Cubs fan for over 30 years, I have finally been enlightened. As with financial portfolio management, it pays to diversify. I have thus decided to cheer for every team except the Oakland Raiders, White Sox, Ohio State, and any competitive organization from New York. I'm practically guaranteed to have one of "my teams" win something at some point. Oh well there's always next year.

Fall Fun

posted by Andy: Pooch Plunge 09 – After they close the city pools in Castle Rock for the season they let the dogs in for about 4 hours. In the video in doesn’t look that busy, but we caught it at the end and it was starting to rain – it was actually pretty crazy – dogs of all sizes flying into the pool and running amok.

Pics

    

 

I also climbed the Castle Rock with a couple friends from church

    

Pics of Chicago and Fun Puppies

Posted by Andy: Good grief…it’s been weeks since our Chicago vacation and it’s 10:30 pm and it feels like this is the first chance I’ve had to post pics from our fun long weekend in Chicago over the 4th of July. We had a blast! I did more downtown over that long weekend than I did when I lived there for 4 years: Cubs game, top of Hancock Tower, Lincoln Park Zoo, Taste of Chicago, fireworks from Navy Pier, Blue Man Group, Gino’s East Pizza (with the Beauchamps!!!), Jogging on the Lakefront, Architecture Boat Tour, great restaurants, whew… here’s some pics

      

       

     

Bonus!!! Micah stayed overnight with us last Saturday while Ker-bear and Skylar were in South Carolina. We played Army of Two and played Chuck-It with the dogs! Some pics…

     

Alpinekat is back with another science rap!

Posted by Kristy:  I love nerdy science vids.  This one is from the same gal who produced last year’s Large Hadron Rap.  Please to enjoy!

 

Better than TV

We just had to share today’s “pets are more entertaining than TV” moment:  Angry Squirrel Taunts Dogs.

 

At the left is the villain, chattering menacingly at the dogs.  To the right, Zeke desperately attempts to befriend the rodent. 

 

This event can last for a few hours, depending on when the squirrel vacates our yard.

Go Kristy Go!

 

Posted by Andy: Kristy raced in her first mountain bike competition on Saturday in Colorado Springs – the Sand Creek International Classic (part of the US Cup Series). Johnny H., Micah, and I joined to watch her completely dismantle her age group. That’s right – Aunt Pretty got 1st Place in her division, and I’m pretty sure in the top several women overall (beat lots of guys, too!) This is no surprise to me and Johnny and Micah who over the years have all tried to keep up with Kristy on various mountain trails. I’m proud of you sweetie! Click on the photos below to go to Flickr and see the comments. Keri there is spandex in almost every picture!

 

 

        

Pieces of Me

Warning!  If you are grossed out by feet, toes or medical conditions, do not read further!

Posted by Kristy:  I am extremely disturbed and have been since about 3:50 yesterday afternoon.  Two months ago, I developed soreness and a slight discoloration in my left big toe.  Being the owner of two Labradors weighing 70 and 90 pounds, I attributed the discomfort  to being stepped on by the dogs.  It happens… frequently… especially when they’re fired up about chuck-it, dinner, and the neighbor’s ducks.  A couple weeks later, the soreness persisted and was accompanied by swelling around the cuticle and a slight discharge which was yellow in color.  I complained about the new developments and attempted treating myself with Epsom salt soaks and pressure irrigation.  After several days of complaining, I visited one of the physicians at the local medical clinic.  Doctor Wilner gave me a prescription for antibiotics and a diagnosis: paryonychia.  (Admittedly, I was super stoked to learn a new medical term!)  Three weeks, several visits, different antibiotics and one stumped doctor later, I got referred to a specialist with a glowing recommendation from my doctor, “He’s new around here and needs something to do.”

Thus, I found myself sitting in the cheery office of Rock Canyon Foot and Ankle Clinic filling out new patient forms and hoping for some relief.  I should have realized the impending storm clouds over the mountains were a metaphor for what would occur that day.  Dr. Christiansen appeared and introduced himself, “Hi.  I’m Cade.  What seems to be the problem?”  After recounting my signs and symptoms, Dr. Christiansen launched into an explanation of the different treatment options.  He discussed methods for evaluating the infection and how he might have to remove my toenail!   The doctor explained that the nail, if it were removed, would grow back in 8 – 10 months with a slight chance of being deformed. 

Of course, I assumed that this process would take “normal doctor time”.  Meaning, I thought that he would do an initial assessment and then schedule another visit for any necessary slicing and dicing.  I’m sure you can imagine my surprise when Dr. Christiansen began selecting menacing looking tools and the assistant marched in with release forms for me to sign!  Sure enough, the doctor slipped on some gloves, grabbed some cold spray and started numbing the toe. 

I learned that, despite being completely numb, watching someone remove any of my body parts (regardless of how inconsequential they may be) upsets me tremendously.  Thankfully, Dr. Christiansen was ready to offer consoling words:

“Hmmmm… this toenail is completely loose on one side.”

“That is quite an odor, this should completely take care of the infection.”

“There’s the nail.  Would you like to keep it?”

“Usually, people say that the pain from this procedure is much less than what you had from the toenail itself.  But wait, you said that yours didn’t really hurt.  I guess this WILL feel worse…”

Half an hour from my appointment time, I was on my way out the door sporting my Chacos and some royal blue Vet-Wrap.  (Dr. Christiansen told me that weenies wear flesh-colored wrap.)   Despite his generous offer, the removed toenail did not come home with me in a ziplock bag. 

 

PS Keri advised me to post this story – so long as I did not include surgery photos.

PPS Andy has also been extremely supportive:

“I had that same procedure when I was 12 years old and I put my own shoes on and ran home from the doctor.”

“You know, toenails are completely extraneous.  You really don’t need them.”

Andy, thanks for helping me with the bandaging – especially when I’m too chicken to rip off the gauze that has bonded with the skin.

Congratulations to Juan!

Posted by Kristy:  The end of every school year brings a new season of ceremonious occasions that we celebrate.  Obviously, high school commencement is one of the most special of these milestones for parents, students and faculty.  This spring marks the end of my 6th year as a teacher, which means that the class of 2009 includes students from the second year of my career!

Today, Andy and I were honored to attend the graduation of  Juan Salas, one of my former 8th graders, from Summit High School in Breckenridge, Colorado.  After the ceremony, Andy and I took Juan out to lunch at “Downstairs at Eric’s” (home of Breckenridge’s best pizza).  As we ate, we chatted with Juan about his experiences, future plans, and some of the people we knew when he was in 8th grade. 

Juan’s stories, thoughts, and goals made it clear to us exactly what a momentous accomplishment his graduation was.  He told us that many of his friends (my former students) have dropped out of school and have children.  We learned that he is the first of his family of seven to attain a high school diploma.  He explained that a high school diploma was important to him because of the doors of opportunities that it opens.  Juan even told us how he helped another friend, who had taken a year off, go back to high school.  (That friend earned a diploma today as well!) 

As we followed I-70 down the mountains and back home, Andy and I had a chance to discuss how impressed we were by Juan and his incredible decisions.  He has consistently made the harder right choices and beat all the statistics that were stacked against him.  During my discussion with Andy, I slowly realized that seeing Juan achieve this amazing success was one of the coolest moments of my career.   So, congratulations to you, Juan!  Thanks for letting us share in your day.