17 August 2008

Mr. Jon Turns Four

On Tuesday Jon will be four-years-old. Today we had cake, sang, and opened gifts. Before the party started, while the cake was being iced, he proclaimed, "THIS is the birthday ever." All he wanted was a helicopter, which he received; complete with lights, sound, and a rescue hoist hook and basket. He does not know that Pops got a fly around the house remote control helicopter for his grandson's birthday. We thought we'd wait awhile to break it out of the box--some quiet rainy day.

Jon is still a big fan of trains. Two Fridays ago we spent the evening --ALL evening, until 10:30--in Kirkwood waiting for the AmTrack, for no good reason, mind you. Just because we wanted to see the train come in. We, that is, as in JON.

We waited, it was late, we waited, it was later, we waited and we watched the station attendant erase the board to fill in the new arrival a time. Another patient little boy(5), waiting for his grandparents from KC, said to Jon, "Hey, you could take the train home." To which Jon replied, "No, I tan't; it won't fit frough the door." I leaned over to Jon's ear and suggested his friend might mean that he could RIDE the train home. We all chuckled. And Jon could not figure out why.

Friday, Jon has his peanut challenge. They stick him in a room at the hospital and give him teeny bits of peanuts until he has an allergic reaction. Starts at 8:30 AM and could go until 4:30 unless he goes into anaphylactic shock - or not That's what the doc wants to know: just how allergic is he. Sound like one of those days we'll all be happy when it is over.

02 August 2008

Mile High

Record temperatures welcomed me to Denver on Thursday. And after frigid indoor temperatures I welcomed the 101 heat outside. My room at the Hyatt had a thermostat which I prompty set at 72--five degrees warmer than when I checked in.

When I arrived at the Sheraton to check out the L. booth in exposition hall, I walked into a lobby filled with large, burly men of all ages. In the same lobby, I noted all the women of a certain age dressed mainly in blue, black, and white. Not religious order habits, actually, but clearly they represented religious orders. The women and the men made for an unusual picture. I chuckled to myself.

Later, I asked what conventions were being held at the Sheraton. The burly dudes were gathered for the John Deere convention; the nuns were attending the Leadership of Religious Women Conference. The juxtaposition of the two tickled me.

Having nothing to do that evening, because I could not set up the booth until morning, I ventured out to the 16th street mall. Somebody in Denver knows what's what about drawing people into a downtown area. FREE shuttles travel up and down the mile long mall, closed to all other traffic. Cross streets have long lights giving pedestrians ample time to cross. Shops and restaurants line the street on both sides. No shortage of things to see and do.

Not enough time this trip to head off into the mountains. And due to the clouds and haze, I can't really see them clearly. But in the evening when the sun sets--it's a stunning view from the top of the Hyatt.