Smoky Hill River Festival 2009

I'm going to break this up into three sections in one post .... so bear with me!

Friends + their kiddos

Erik had a thing about taking photos of our friends' kids ... I admit they're cute and all .... but there are a TON of photos of the kiddlins.

Maybe he's trying to show me up? ;)









The View

About a month ago, Erik and I hit the River Festival (ok all you Wichita people, there are RIVERS other places than JUST Wichita. This is SALINA'S River Festival. Got it?)

We went first about 3 years ago, shortly after we started dating ... and it's been a nice annual event. :) Awesome time to just kick back, listen to some tunes and catch up with friends.


Such as this little fella. He hung out with us for a portion of the afternoon. ;)

I got a big kick out of the Kinsey Sicks. They dressed as 1950s housewives ... and were a barbershop quartet. What a HOOT!

Oh, except for the view.


THIS is what we saw during their Stage II performance. Pft. Thanks boogerheads for standing in our way. Even after someone VERY NICELY asked you to sit down (it wasn't me. I was irritated and couldn't have asked in a "very nice" manner).

Oh, and ps-the person on the right is a dude, and he was wearing the most dangly earrings I've ever seen ... sup with THAT? Oh, and guy on the right, your pants are too low and crack in public is NOT a good thing. :(

But we did get a TINY glimpse (of the crack, we got MORE than a tiny glimpse.) :(

Ok, so Kinsey Sicks ....


More photos to follow!

Erik's perspective

Well, this is Karen and I have no idea what Erik's perspective was, but after a buddy mixed him a few drinks ...


... he was taking photos of everything — and eveyONE in sight ... even if we didn't know them. Um .... embarassing! Or moreso because it was dark and the camera flash was employed.

Um ..... I can't explain most of these, so I'll just let you see a piece of my husband's mind.

If there's an unflattering photo of you below and you want me to remove it, lemme know. Sorry for my husband's insanity.








When the camera was pointed in my direction, I was understandibly NOT amused.


Then I wrestled the camera away from Erik, and he had a good pout.


Then the people behind us were talking .... and of course Erik took THEIR photo, too.


Sheesh.

The Cozy Inn

Erik swore he would NEVER step foot inside The Cozy Inn. Never.

"Why not?"
"It stinks" he informed me.
"Balderdash."

Our first date at Cozy was St. Patrick's day, 2007. He'd lived in Salina for 8+ years and never eaten there. Never. Erik had even resisted his dad's repeated requests to go.

So .... when he took me there, I *knew* he was smitten and making compromises.

But he wouldn't go in. We would only order from the window.

I begged.

And pleaded.

Finally, he agreed.


I just LOVE the character of the place! check out the little salt and pepper shakers!


And the tiny hamburgers are TOO CUTE to resist!


Yummmmmmmie!

Cooperstorm IV

For the last four years, the K-State photogs have descended on Salina to cuss and discuss photos. It's great fun to have a reunion and see everyone!


Beer is brought and consumed, food is eaten and photos are shared.


Last year, we had friends travel from far away to attend! Last year from Atlanta and Houma, La.

This year, our buddy Clif came up from Texas .... and next year we look forward to Justin visiting from Iowa!


In the above photo, I think Clif looks a little like the profile of Garrison Keillor (see photo below).


Anyhow, what I love, love, love about our annual reunion is to catch up .... and see where everyone is. It's *so* interesting to me that we all started in the same place ... as news photogs, and we have branched off SO far ... yet photography is still integrated in each of our lives.

I couldn't help but wonder: How many paths are possible from one starting point?

In the Sal-Jo

SO, my first full day as a Salina resident was busy. Erik introduced me to the local
YMCA, where I'll start training TODAY for the swimming portion of a triathlon (I'm gonna swim, my buddy Kristine will run and Mr. Heath will bike).

I also stuck my nose into the city commission meeting. What can I say? After more than three years of covering Hays City Commission meetings, I missed them. Ok, not really, but the Salina commission was talking about water rates. I couldn't resist.

Some here in Salina are whiners about paying "conservation rates" if they use 120% more water during the summer than winter. Whatever. We survived just fine in Hays.

Commissioners seemed reluctant to offer incentives, but I wanted to encourage them to do so (they are UBER popular in Hays).

The Salina Journal reporter DID use my name, but I wasn't quoted. One quick note, I am using Erik's address as my permanent residence, BUT living with an awesome family just outside of town .... I mention this because they put addresses in the paper. On another quick note, most papers don't use family members of a staffer as a source ... I'm not sure if the reporter didn't know I'm engaged to Erik or if the info was that pertinent (I prefer to think the latter!). I am guessing he did ask E, though, because my name was spelled correctly in print (I was guessing it would be butchered!).

Ok, so here's the teaser to the story HERE. I'm not sure where the rest of it is. It isn't up, and it's Tuesday, so I'm not sure why....

Cat nap

Esse was enjoying one of her cat naps Sunday evening.


She was nestled all snuggly ....


ON MY BUM!

I'm not exactly sure what the allure was, but she wouldn't move! I pulled the sheets off of Erik's bed to wash them and was testing out his memory foam mattress topper. SO Esse felt the need to test out a new sleeping place, too.

Erik took this photo with my pro camera, and I'm proud at the wonderful job he did!

I've been replaced!

Erik and Esse had all last week to adjust to living together. I would get daily reports, and they were always good. It sounds like Esse is a *little* clingy to Erik, but he's a handsome dude, so I can't blame her! :-)

SO I am around over the weekend, and was of course snuggling with Erik. Esse was NOT happy. If we were snuggly, there wasn't room in Erik's lap for HER. Ok, so after the first day she learned. Once Erik sat down, she'd IMMEDIATELY hop up into his lap.

Booger.

But that means she likes Erik, which I'm glad for.

Now it's just getting through a few more weeks in Hays ... but sans kitty! I know she's in good hands with Erik, but Esse and I have lived together for more than 4 years, so this is a BIG change for me.

Esse's big move

My cat, Esperanza del Gato (Esse), moved from Hays to Salina on Friday. Ok, so now since she's living in Erik's house, she's Erik's cat (or so he says!) She doesn't like car trips .... especially LONG car trips. She did a LOT of crying and panting (she does this panting thing in the car, it's strange).

She didn't want to do her business before we left, so of course, 28 miles out of Salina, she took care of it. Thankfully, that was in her carrier.


After that traumatic experience, I "freed Esse." She scampered around Erik's basement, and also enjoyed checking out the upstairs bedrooms.


After she explored, I introduced her to the big, picture window in the living room. It is about the same height as a window in Independence, so I think she'll like it.


Right now, Erik spends lots of time watching Booger and giving me updates. What can I say? I"m pathetic! BUT I also want to be sure the transition is smooth, and so far it has been!