Jason's Untimely Thoughts

I think I’ve mentioned this in this space before, but I donated a bunch of Sarah’s photos to the State Historical Society of Missouri.  I went through and sorted all her negatives, prints, and such, and then gave some to various folks around town, while the majority went to the historical society.  I intend to do the same thing with the digital files, but just have never gotten to it.

The folks at SHSM emailed me yesterday with an inventory of what they have.  It’s not terribly descriptive, I think they’ll go back thru if/when they ever have more time, and add more detail.  But, if interested, their inventory is linked here.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the Becking family!  Here’s a Christmas Card that you may or may not be receiving in the mail soon.  As usual, at least there’s a lot of photos to distract you from the poor design!

Happy end of the home football season, Tiger Fans.  By “happy”, of course, you know I mean Boo, BOO, BOOOOOO football season is almost over.  BOOOOOOOO.

On Saturday, our beloved Tigers take on the Orange from Syracuse University.  The winner of the game will be bowl eligible.  By the “winner”, of course, you know I mean Mizzou will be bowl eligible.  Other goings on  include black out day, Salute to the Military, and the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachuting in at halftime.  Crazy.

I’ll be at the tailgate earlier than you.  The Ninichucks are bringing Buckingham’s, the Messers are bringing chili, and we’re bringing hot dogs.  Call Wingate for all your pest control needs.  Call Mike for all your Shelter Insurance needs.  Call me if you happen to need 2 tickets to the game.  I’d guess food will be there around 3:00, bring what you will.  By “what you will”, of course, you know I mean please don’t bring any crazy amounts of beer or a cooler you plan on leaving on my front porch.  I have lots of beer that I’ll be bringing and I have lots of your coolers on my front porch.

Kickoff is set for 6:02, but you’ll want to go in there 20 minutes or so earlier  to recognize the 18 seniors playing their last home game.  Below are some notes from MUTigers.com on those guys.  Go Tigers, crush the Orange.

Holy it’s Thursday already, Tiger Fans,

As you all know, Homecoming week means cold, rain on Friday night, and beating as bad a football team as we can find (I’m looking at you, Oklahoma of 2010) to play.  In longstanding tradition, this year Homecoming will be against a team wearing blue whose fans don’t really even know football exists.  Kick off against UK is at 11:00, which means early tailgate time and breakfast galore.  Come when you will, bring what you will, win Tigers.

I know almost nothing about our opponent this week, which just makes it all the easier to pretend they’re from the west, wear red socks, celebrate their vagabond history, and have regularly been on probation for illegal basketball recruiting.  Go Tigers, and on a side note, screw UK.

Hello football fans,

Saturday, the Tigers get back to their winning ways when #1 Alabama comes to town.  Kick off is scheduled for 2:39, you’ll want to be in your seat on time as Gahn McGaffie runs back the opening kickoff, Oklahoma style, as Mizzou starts their upset.  We’ll be at the tailgate early, come when you will.  Jim and Jessie Yankee, of Flat Branch Home Loans and Easy PC, respectively  are taking care of the meat this tailgate, via D. Rowe’s.  Smoked wings, pulled pork, and brisket are on the menu.  Bring a side or dessert, if you like, and call Flat Branch for all your home loan needs and Easy PC for your IT issues.

At this point, we’ve all heard all we care to about the illustrious SEC and how cool they (we?) are.  Their dress, their attitude, their tailgating, etc.  In rebuttal, I present two pictures of Bama fans (courtesy of outkickthecoverage.com).

A Swag

Watch out for clashing houndstooth. Houndsteeth?

They’re not so cool.

Go Tigers, beat Bama.

Poem by Adelaide, written last week in school.

I finally have a scanner operational again, so here’s some selected writings from Jack’s time in first grade.

This story takes place in the basketball arena volley ball court and the football field.

One day two best friends started to play sports and ther names were Jack and Cory Jack played basketball and Cory played volleyball!  Then they met a football player names James franklin!  We faced James franklin in football he beat us BA-

D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We vserd (versed) James fraklin to a baskeball game we had some of the worlds best basketball players like Michale Jordan and Koby Brayant and we won 10000000 to 0!  and then we played against James franklin in a volleyball game we beat him good the score was 10000000011111111 to 0!

Story 2, The Tryouts.  This one is about when he tried out for Upward Basketball last year. (Also written in 1st Grade)

The tryouts

Kasasas 0 Missouri 2000

by Jack

 First me and my Dad had to go over to the plase that the baketball thing was at and ther was a long line.

I was shy of a lot of kids and then my Dad said my name then they gav me a pees of paeper.  They made me trie on some close and then they made me get masherd then they took a picture of me and we.  Sat down then they called some other kids and then

they called me.  First I went over to two cones they made me slide cone to cone it was like I was garding another kid

like I’m probably going to do when I well do when i get into a basketball game.  And then I went back to my dad and we got in the car and my dad drived home and I went to sleep the end.

Howdy football fans,

This weekend the Tigers take on the Commodores from Vanderbilt University.  Game time is at 6 p.m.  We’ll be tailgating again, naturally, in Lot D.  Lot D, for where the good things happen.  Not Lot G, where things happen that make me say damn.  Lot D – we’re for good times.  My folks are bringing ribs for the main fare.  Bring what you will.  I’ll be there early, I’m sure.

I haven’t looked at the schedule in a while, but know we have 3 consecutive home games.  After the win at Central Florida last week, I’m certain it’s all on track and we’re in for nothing but wins in October.

Go Tigers, beat the Dores, screw ku.

Adelaide’s birthday was yesterday — she turned 10.  Every parent everywhere says it, but it’s hard to believe how quickly those 10 years have gone.  She had some friends over for a sleepover this weekend, we’ll be going to dinner with family tonight, having another gathering on Saturday, and she had flowers delivered to her at school and at home.  In all a good birthday, I think.  But at bedtime she said “I wish mom was here to tell me happy birthday.”

Tears, then and now.

I generally don’t let the kids say “that’s not fair.”  Even if it’s not, learning to get through the unfairness is part of life, and too often there’s nothing you can do to even the playing field.  However, it’s simply not fair that Adelaide and Jack lost their mom.  It still sucks, and I don’t want them to think otherwise.

All that said, things are going pretty well.  Kim has taken to the family, and us to her, and the same with Brandon.  In all, everyone gets along great and we are chugging along.  We’ve been married almost 5 months, and in a good way, it seems like a lot longer than that.  It’s a happy, busy time.

It’s also a weird time.  We’re all living multiple lives, while we figure out how the new life works.  The kids all have new siblings, or in Brandon’s case multiple new siblings in separate houses in separate cities.  Kim’s adjusting, I’m sure, to having two new kids depending on her as well as my idiosyncrasies.   And a lack of closet space.

As for me, I’m still married to Sarah.  Her family is still my family.  All the goods and bads that come their way also come my way.  Obviously, though, I’m also lucky enough to be married to Kim.  Through circumstances and good nature, Kim understands much of what I’m dealing with intuitively, and has made considerable effort effortlessly to respect and honor my first marriage and that family as well.  I appreciate it.

But the hard part to reconcile, as good as everything is with Kim, I too wish Sarah was here to tell Adelaide happy birthday.  And there’s no way to say/type/think that sentence, without feeling guilty or wondering if I’m hurting Kim’s feelings.  And then, obviously, if I don’t say/think/type that sentence, it’s being disrespectful to Sarah. And on and on and on.

It’s a weird place, to be living in two worlds.  It would possibly be better if one of those worlds had a job, I suppose.  Soon enough.

Late in the week greetings, Tiger Fans,

This week Mizzou hosts the Sun Devils from Arizona State University, kick off is at 6:00 pm.  We’ll be tailgating by 2:00, after another U10 girls soccer game at Noon (go Qatar).  Mexican is the fare this weekend, with the group combining to bring makings for tacos and burritos.  Really, it’s like Taco Bell, we’ll have the stuff there, you assemble it in any combination you like and call it what you will.

Arizona State beat the Tigers last year in overtime, so it’s REVENGE! again this week.  They fired their coach and hired some new guy that evidently believes in playing two quarterbacks and a locker room that smells like theirs in Arizona.  Seriously, I’ve seen more articles this week about him bringing special locker room air fresheners so his team is comfortable than I have about the game.  I haven’t read any of those articles though, because really, headline writers, trying to reel me in with some clever quip about locker room odors isn’t happening.  I’ve been in locker rooms.  They stink.  Like a mythical shoe-wearing bird stinks. Especially, maybe, one that had more Rice than it could handle and explodes might stink. (*Note:  Those birds don’t really eat Rice, because those birds are fake.  They don’t exist.  Secondly, I heard several versions of that joke this week, so I give credit to the interwebs.)

Go Tigers, Win.