I've just returned from my week long vacation in beautiful:

Frontenac, KS! My hometown!

It's truely the best vacation spot on the planet. So relaxing to just chill in a town so small there isn't even a Starbucks---

Hey! Oh Frontenac, how you've changed. Well, okay, that's actually in Pittsburg. But close enough!
The swingset my cousins, brother and I used to play on at my Uncle's old house is still here. It's a little rusty now.



It has also been moved near the ditch (above) that is filled with volcanic lava! I know from this angle the ditch does not appear to be so menacing... it may also appear to be filled with dead leaves and a big green ball. But I clearly remember in the early 80s, my cousins and I placing a wooden plank across a dangerous river of molten lava that we absolutely HAD to cross.

People in Frontenac always say the town never changes. I suppose the change is too gradual to appreciate when you live there. I moved away when I was 22. Now, I'm---

--as of April 12th-- 31 years old! Note to self: coming home on your birthday was a GREAT idea! You got all sorts of cool gifts and--

lot's of attention from the fam! Sweet! :)

Mom's still using her old film camera. :)

My brothers girlfriend was also celebrating a birthday! I couldn't resist buying her this classy t-shirt!

While home, I also caught up my old highschool friend, Seth. It was great fun catching up with him. Though I am afraid our highschool antics are not suitable for publication on my blog. Soon I'm going to dig out our old videos we made in college and putting them on the internet when I find time (and the old videos!). He's doing well living in KC and is soon to be heading out to sea working on a cruise ship in Europe.

I also shared the traditional Bamboo Dragon meal with friends Aaron and Kim! Best chinese food in the country! Dave calls it 'KFC with sauce', but I think it's delicious! Aaron and Kim are expecting child number 3 next month. Oddly, I think I spent our entire lunch together trying to get the name of their new little one out of them. I had no luck. Therefore, I will be naming their child whatever I wish on this blog. So there! :)

We saw Malissa, my best friend from highschool, and her husband, Don, in KC. When M and I were kids we would always talk about how we were going to have a black refrigerator someday. Black fridges were AWESOME. We even took it a step further and often went to a local store to simply look at and admire the black refrigerators. Hey, don't make fun until you spend 20 some years in a town so small there isn't even a Starbucks! Well, now the final step has been taken: Malissa and Don OWN a black refrigerator! I'm so jealous! ;)
They also own a very large and slobbery dog. Gwen was very friendly!
We spent the afternoon with Grandma. That's my Aunt Shellie and Uncle Don's new doggie! They haven't named her yet, therefore I will also be naming it on my blog as well. You know what, let's make this interactive. How about my loyal readers (i know you must number in the millions!) name the dog and the baby. Just leave your entries in the comments section. I will announce the winner next week if there are actually entries to judge! ;)
Another highlight of the trip had to be cheering on my brother at his bowling tournament! I'm sure he was not the least bit embarrassed!
Now it's time to get to work on editing our old super 8 films from the 70s and early 80s. We shot them on mini-dv, and now I am going to put together a nice dvd for the family!