Board Meetings, Dancing with the Stars, and a Trip to Ohio

Monday, May 5th started the week out and after a stockholder's meeting and board meeting, I returned home to be greeted by Adyson, Lexi, and Jenny. Since Cheryl and I were preparing for a trip to Ohio, Jenny decide that she was already missing us and came by for dinner and a movie.

Well of course, everyone knows, except in my case, that Monday evening is "Dancing with the Stars" TV series. Grammy, Jenny and Adyson all of course insisted that we watching "Dancing with the Stars". Okay, I can become a couch potato and watch a TV Series of celebrities trying to dance. Yea, right, little did I know that I had been delegated to participate in the TV Series.

Adyson quickly changed into one of her princess dresses and Papa became the shining prince in honor. When each celebrity began their routine, well Papa and Adyson actually performed the routine for them. With each routine, Adyson would quickly change into the appropriate costume. Then call for her prince in shining armor to come dance, "Papa, it's time to dance". Then after a quick moment of instruction in regards to the current routine; we danced our hearts out. If you think that Jason Taylor can dance, you haven't seen anything yet. Wait until you see Papa dancing the Samba, Fox Trot, and Tango. Quick steps, twirls, kicks,lifts and yes, even a death spiral and tango drag were all performed to perfection. I believe that we nailed every dance to perfection. Adyson would patiently await the results after each dance to see what our score would be. Needless to say, Adyson had fun and Papa was worn out by the end of the evening.

Tuesday, May 6th, was more "bored meetings" and then Cheryl and I caught a plane to Ohio. Well we caught a plane to Las Vegas, and then to Ohio. After 5 hours in the air, we arrived in Columbus Ohio at 12:45 am. Checking into our hotel room we discovered that our reservation was a "no show" for May 6th and that we could still have our reservation but our King Bed despite a reservation was reduced to a Queen bed maybe? Yup, walked into the hotel room and found two double beds, just what we ordered. At 2:00 am, who cares at this point, let's just grin and bear it.

May 7th,Wednesday morning bright and early, well 11:00 am, Rachel and Gabe picked Cheryl and I up for a tour of Columbus, Ohio. Spent the day at the zoo. Gabe was always on the go. First, was the petting zoo where he ran from goat to goat. Next a trip to the bear exhibits, lunch, and tigers. Continued the day with a trip to the Kangaroo pen where the maintenance work pounding a new sign into the ground was more of interest than the kangaroos themselves.

We even experienced feeding the birds, Lorketts to be exact. Amazing how birds will flock together for food. A stare down with a monkey and gorilla was enough to call it a day. Oh, yea and it began to rain.

Rachel drove us to their home in Dayton, where we had dinner and planned our weeks activities.

Thursday,May 8th, rain and more rain. Today we kicked back and relaxed this morning and caught up on a little bit of lost sleep. Ventured out this afternoon. Rachel took us on a tour of the WPAFB. Even visited the commissary and purchases some MRE's, Cheryl just has to have more to take home than what she brings from home. Hm, sitting here listen to the weather and they are telling me that nearby a Tornado has just touched down a bit southeast from us. National Weather Service is now issuing a Tornado Warning for certain counties. Okay, Rachel what have you gotten me into!

Back to the rest of the day, after touring the base we visited the National Air Force Museum. Only had an hour and half to visit a museum that would take the normal person two days to go through.

Gabe kept us moving along and on occasion was able to slip under the barriers but we were fast enough to catch him before he climbed onto the original Wright Flyers and the other air craft. However, he did manage to climb into the F-4 cockpit and we luckily pulled him out before he kicked the after burners into full bore.

Finished the day with dinner at a authenticate Mexican Restaurant and rain and more rain.

May 9th, Friday, drove to Dayton International airport, don't ask why we flew into Columbus, and rented a van to tour the state of Ohio in with John, Rachel and Gabe. First stop after spending an hour and half in the vehicle was a McDonald's for Breakfast about 5 minutes from John and Rachel's home. Talk about going around in circles. A little breakfast and we had our bearings and it was off to Columbus and then northward to the Longeberger Homestead. The home of weave basket for the home decor. A third generation business that is doing well. We toured the plant, shopped in the factory shop, and let Gabe run and run and run. After the Longeberger Factory we moved into Amish country.

As we drove through the countryside all I could think of was how green Ohio is. A beautiful state. It was amazing to be traveling down a country road and come upon a buggy that was going at a "good" clip. It is amazing how these people survive in our busy "everyone is in a hurry" world. Yet they continue to find ways to provide a living in this time of history. Industrious, no doubt about it. Visited the Lehman's Hardware Store where you can find about anything for the Amish and for us. Ate some lunch at Lehman's and discovered the best "Fried pies" or in other words turnover. They would melt in one's mouth and were so good!

Finished the day by driving outside Cleveland where we will start our day tomorrow and spend the day visiting the Kirtland area.