Jason's Untimely Thoughts

After the 2007 Mizzou football season, Sarah was approached by a gentleman named Darin Wernig, who was hoping to write a book about the season.  It all came together, eventually including both the 2007 and 2008 seasons, with Sarah’s photography featured throughout the 2007 portion of the book and on the cover.

The book will be for sale soon via the University of Missouri press.  I received our copy in the mail this week.  Below is the front cover, back cover, and a nice mention of Sarah that appears early in the book.

Hear the Roar! front cover

Hear the Roar! back cover

Hear the Roar! interior page

Beat nebraska.

We spent last weekend in Malden where we had a small birthday party for Adelaide on Friday night and then had my 20th high school reunion activities on Saturday.  A group of 20 or so stopped by the house Saturday afternoon, which was a nice way to ease in to the reunion.  The kids, myself, and a few others did a little swimming while most everyone else sat around chatting.  It was fun.  Many in the group had a, um, long night on Friday night, so their movement was fairly slow Saturday afternoon.

The main part of the reunion was Saturday night.  Dinner for 50-60, I’d guess, with another 20-30 people showing up as the night went on.  Some from our class, some from other classes, but it was good to see everyone.

All in attendance seemed to be doing very well and overall to have not changed too much since the late 1980s.  Despite the fluctuations in weight, hair, and overall attractiveness, it was good to see that everyone was basically the same.  I don’t believe there were more than 5 people there that I’d seen at all in the past 10 years.  For everyone else, it had probably been closer to 15-20 years since I’d seen them.  Obviously, just superficial catching up, but still lots of laughs.  Although there were very few people in that room that I talk with regularly (or even annually pre-facebook), still a lot of good friends and good memories.

I appreciate all who attended, the chance to see everyone, and Darla and others who organized the event.

For unknown reasons, lots of people there thought one or more of the following:

• I worked for Mizzou
• I was the biggest Mizzou fan they knew
• I was maybe a preacher
• I was too old to be drinking Budweiser (or that Budweiser was generally bad for you)
• If someone yells M-I-Z, I will automatically respond Z-O-U  *

Most of those things are false, although Sunday offered plenty of proof in favor of the Budweiser bullet point.  As we were leaving, though, several were closing out their $80-ish bar tabs, which were mostly made up of $2.25 beers, so I’m guessing their light beer leanings didn’t help their argument much on Sunday either.  (*This one is clearly false.  I almost never respond Z-O-U unless inside the stadium, with dozens/hundreds/thousands also responding.  “Go Tigers” is much more typically my response in one-on-one settings.)

beat nebraska.  On a side note, screw ku.

Adelaide turns 7 tomorrow… I ate lunch with her in the school cafeteria today, something she wishes I’d do pretty much every day but I very rarely do, then we had cupcakes in her room. Our next door neighbor made the cupcakes (Thank you!), which was great as Adelaide told me over lunch she wouldn’t eat any cupcakes I made — “I’d be like waaaay scared.” (Wonder why I don’t go to lunch with her more?) Also had an excellent birthday party on Sunday, pictures of which have already been posted.

No doubt about it, she’s growing up. I was amazed at how big all the kids were at the party, not physically but in the way they acted. Just hung out and chatted at the beginning waiting for all the guests to arrive. At gift time, everyone sat around her calmly while she opened the gifts. Good manners and good kids all around.

One of Sarah’s friends from high school is visiting this weekend. She comes in fairly regularly for meetings and regularly stays with us. But had regularly stayed with us to visit with Sarah. Just a reminder that there are more reminders all the time and will be forever. A good thing.

Sarah’s grave stone is closer to being installed. The company from Memphis is working with someone locally to do the foundation work, then they’ll come up and install. Will likely be a few weeks yet, but relatively soon. It will be weird to look out and see it, I think. I’ve become used to seeing the various flowers that friends and family have left on the ground and in flower pots, will be weird to see something permanent.

Tomorrow we’re headed to Malden (Go Green Wave) for the weekend. We’ll have a small birthday party there tomorrow night, then I have my 20-year high school reunion on Saturday night. Must say, I have mixed feelings about the reunion, which is probably normal. Part of it is I have a slight fear, which facebook seems to have enhanced, that I won’t know a surprising number of people from our class. At our 10-year reunion I was talking to someone I knew that I simply couldn’t place, which was awful. He reminded very much of someone I’d come to know a little bit up here, including the same first name and similar looks, so I was mostly confused at how I’d never known the guy from up here went to my high school. Spent the conversation trying to figure that out, when it was two entirely different people and I’d just had craziness in my head, but the dude had no way of knowing that.

Anyway, with the explosion of us old people on facebook, I’ve become even more aware that I’m likely to run into people on Saturday that I don’t remember…. fun times.

Sarah & I had just been married a few months at my 10-year reunion. I was informed later that I’d introduced her all night as “my new wife,” which evidently had resulted in her getting strange looks and people wondering who my first wife was. I’ll miss having her to save me from my awkward I don’t remember who you are stuff by introducing herself first. I’m also not looking forward to explaining what happened and the sad-face looks and awkward forced conversational transitions that happen.

I am looking forward to seeing people, though, and realize a good time will be had. Small-town USA, I’ve probably been to 5-6 class reunions in Malden over the years besides my own. Plus three Rock Bridge High School reunions over the years, none of which were mine either.

In other news, even the beaker football (basketball) team hates the beaker basketball (football) team. screw ku.

Home game number two is Saturday with our beloved Tigers moving to 3-0 with a win over the Furman Paladins.  For all those who’ve asked, Furman is located in Greenville, South Carolina.  A Paladin is defined as “paragon of chivalry; a heroic champion; a strong supporter or defender of a cause; and any of the 12 peers of French emperor Charlemagne’s court.”  Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., we’ll be tailgating by 10:00 I think.  Ribs from Southeast Missouri will be the featured attraction, plus whatever you’d like to bring.  Potentially even some birthday cake, in honor of Adelaide’s pending 7-dom.

It was all I could do to not type “I don’t care” as the answer to each What is it? and Where are they?  And it’s ridiculously difficult to gear up to make fun of Furman.  So, I’ll move on.  I do assume the “FU” shirts their bookstore sells are big hits with South Carolina parents.

Columbia recently passed the 100,000 population mark, with news articles making the claim that it would lead to an influx of new businesses.  While I can’t speak for all businesses, the freaking taxis have arrived.  We now have approximately 19 taxi companies, a pedi-cab trolling around downtown, and some dudes who say they’ll drive drunks home in their own cars, stowing their foldable scooter in the trunk so the dudes can ride back downtown for the next round of drunks.

These taxis did us no good last week, however, when “Truman’s Taxi” failed just prior to pre-game.  I know some of you found great humor in the sight of the yellow firetruck being towed away.  Rest easy, I won’t be calling the police on you for your habit of pulling the wings off of butterflies, dressing as a clown on Halloween, and the other atrocities you surely practice.  The kids will attempt to ride the firetruck pre-game again this week.

After re-reading this, I now realize I should have just spent the entire time making fun of South Carolina.  on a side note, screw ku.

Happy Football, Tiger Fans!

On Saturday, our beloved Tigers return to Faurot Field to face the Bowling Green Falcons.  BG has won their last two contests with the Tigers, so revenge is in order.  Revenge.  REVENGE!!!  (Their coach at the time has since changed jobs twice, must be a real loser.)

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:07 p.m.  We’ll be tailgating in the same spot again this year, Lot D.  As usual for the first game of the year, we’ll be joined by many from my work.  Food and beverage provided by Miller’s.  Mpix.com for all your photo lab needs.  Hoss’s Market will be providing the food, served beginning around 3:30.  I’ll probably be at the tailgate by early afternoon.

The Tigers’ performance against ILL proved that all the pre-season pundits were just Jive Talkin.  Blaine Gabbert’s performance indicates recent history of fantastic quarterback play is Staying Alive.  With the first home game, there’s some real Saturday Night Fever around town.  MU is hoping for a big big crowd this weekend (to match the new big big TV), will you be there?  How Deep Is Your Love?

The kids will be riding with Truman on the yellow fire truck before the game, One Night Only, so go in early so you can pretend you saw them.  They’re both excited about the prospect.

as for KU, they can eat Grease.  Alternatively, for you Todd Reesing fans, he’s More Than a Woman (pics and pic).

August was a good month (after previous post of July sucking).  Started with a bunch of favorite friends back in town for a long weekend.  It seems like it would happen all the time for us in Columbia, but it’s simply awesome to hang out with a group of people where laughter and conversation comes so easily.  People (and beer) can (bottles) flow from room to room, combining old, new, and repeated jokes, stories, and ultra-amazing insights.  Some of the junk is years and years old, some of it is laughing at whatever just happened.  Just an awesome time, every time that group gets together.

The kids then went to Malden for a little over a week, which went well for all of us.  I had some fun carousing around downtown, the kids had fun in the Bootheel, I accomplished a few minor things at home I’d been wanting to do, and generally lived the bachelor life (didn’t use a plate the entire week for example).  Was fun.

Was then good to reunite with the kids for a week, followed by the excitement of the back in the school routine.  Throughout, I have facebooked my way into reuniting with some old friends, some new friends, and an upcoming class reunion.  Again, all in all a very excellent month.  (Plus sales at work are up, I told you forever ago that the recession was over, spread the word.)

The end of August was weird, though… I still occasionally hear tales of Sarah showing up in people’s dreams.  Which is great.  I’ve still yet to have any dreams where we had meaningful conversation, but have had a few, including a few recently, that are more historical… like replaying a conversation we had, or might have had, or whatever.   Fairly trivial, except for the fact that I’m remembering bits of them, when I rarely remember anything dreams.

Follows then that I’m remembering more of my dreams in general.  About a week ago I woke up in the middle of the night, having just dreamed that two people I know fairly well had died suddenly.  I was sobbing in my dream (not in real life), and woke up mid sob.  It was freaky.   I’ve since seen both of the people, not said anything specific to them, but made special effort to find out that they were doing well generally.  Just freaky.

Since that time, the bedtime scenario has gotten weird again though.  I go to bed replaying hospital conversations and sounds.  Or thinking about whatever.  Just generally not wanting to go to bed.  A year ago that was the case every night.  It’s not nearly as frequent now, and not nearly as bad, but it’s something that had pretty much gone away until I awoke from that crazy dream.  All caused by waking up from a freaking dream that I’d probably have never remembered otherwise.

The weirdness is offset by the start of football.  Yay, football, yay.  I have gone to a couple of the scrimmages and am booked for eight games thus far.  Interested in going to both Colorado and Ok State also (and wherever else, of course), but am going to attempt to will my way to just those eight.  Plus the Big 12 Championship Game and the Bowl Game, naturally.

Finally, we should all rent The Man With Two Brains.  Was reminded of that movie today, randomly.  Get that cat outta here.

JTB & AEB First Day of School

Jack and Adelaide successfully started school again yesterday.  Jack is back at CDC.  He’s in the Bear Class this year, which is where he spent the summer as well.  The other big changes for him are the fact that he’s going five days per week and that he’s now one of the oldest kids in the school.  Also that they have a male cook this year.  He has black hair.  They had hot dogs yesterday.  With ketchup.

Jack has started both days by asking if this is the day he gets to start kindergarten.  With most of his friends no longer at CDC, he’s not sure why he needs to be there either.

CDC also has a new policy of calling you every time someone gets hurt.  “Hurt” seems to include almost every normal activity for a four-year old boy.  Thankfully, they’ve modified already to allow for sending text messages or emails, so I watch for those daily.  Today’s message was “jack fell while running on the bike track.  he scraped his knee a little.  he is fine.”

Adelaide is a 1st Grader at Grant, with Mrs. Williams as her teacher.  She has several friends from kindergarten in her class, which is great of course.  With only two kindergarten classes, she also sees the remaining friends frequently.  After a day, she likes math the most.  It seems that early first grade math consists of tracing the number 2.  More advanced techniques will surely follow.  We’re also trying to pack a lunch this year, which was very strongly discouraged last year (by me).

The Grant playground has an institutionally mandated pecking order.  You have to be in 3rd Grade to go on the soccer field, kindergartners aren’t allowed past the log cabin, only the brave chase wayward four-square balls into the cemetery, etc.  So of course the minute they were allowed to play yesterday before school started, all the newly minted first graders ran immediately to the formerly forbidden climber and log cabin!  I assume they also stared menacingly at the kindergartners in the hallways, although I didn’t see that part.

Adelaide will go to Adventure Club after school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with dance, grandmother, and sitter combining to take care of Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Jack will also probably get to leave CDC early on Thursdays, so he can participate in the Grant School playground sibling social hour after school.

In all, school is off to a smooth start.  Certainly much smoother than this time last year, for all of us.

Since 2002 or so, I’ve been emailing an expanding group before every home game with our tailgate plans for that week’s game.

Since 2004 or so, then, I occasionally go back and read them.  Normally when I’m anxious for football season to get here.  Like now, like I did today.

Some of them still make me laugh.  Maybe they will you too.  Tailgate emails.

Adelaide and Jack go to the Bootheel Youth Museum almost every visit to Malden.  It’s a quite impressive interactive museum, especially so for a town that size.

The BYM is currently using a “Pennies for Projects” campaign to raise funds.  Hoping to get to a billion pennies, which seems like a lot to me.

The kids dropped off pennies at their last visit to town.  There’s a nice little write-up and pic on the BYM website.  Allegedly newspaper coverage to come also.  Yay small town newspapers.

Adelaide and Jack Becking aren’t necessarily two individuals the average person would consider calling Bootheel Youth Museum benefactors.  You’d be surprised to learn that these two Missouri residents are not only staunch advocates of the BYM but have become fundraisers as well.  The two children, yep that’s right they’re just kids, their combined age is 10.  They have conducted a Pennies 4 Project fundraiser in their home town of Colombia, Missouri.  Adelaide, age 6, and Jack, age 4, are the grandchildren of Bill and Nancy Green and added their collection of 3,969 pennies to the Pennies 4 Projects bin.

Adelaide and Jack share their love of the museum with their friends, family, and have even told businesses about the BYM.  Nancy shared a story about how animated the kids were, when they were talking with a restaurant owner in Columbia.  The owner excused himself and came back a few minutes later with a jar full of pennies.  Adelaide and Jack aren’t the only young fundraisers the museum has had over the last few months. Malden Elementary School students have collected  3,871 pennies.  The grand total of pennies collected as of August 14, 2009, is 72,526pennies.  The BYM wants to thank all our donors and requests you keep saving and sending in your pennies as the museum hopes to collect 1 billion.”

Huh? You’re Saying.

I watch the Tour de France every year, the race amazes me.  It’s the reason we have all those high channels on our TV, which now mostly give us Disney XD and other junk.   If you’ve ever watched, you notice the randomness written on the routes in chalk or whatever each stage.

This year, Livestrong and Nike teamed up to make a “Chalkbot“.  You could tweet (use twitter) your message to them, they’d write as many as they could on the course.  Today I received the photo below of the message I’d sent them during the race.  (actually a DM on twitter pointing to a twitpic, just to add some more jargon)

The message was printed here, according to the GPS info anyway.

SEMB Still Loved message in 2009 Tour de France, by the Chalkbot