Catching Up

LIfe has just gotten out of hand for The Old Curmudgeon. It seems that since Summer began the schedule has been jam-packed. So rather than a running account, we are offering a bit of a review

In June, Grif payed a visit to an old friend, Austin, that once lived down the street. As a matter of fact, this is what the two of them looked on their first day of school:

And here they are, sans back packs, now:

I can't explain how they got so much older in such a short time.

Meanwhile, Lauren has decided to become a hippy.

Peace, sister, peace.

In June we visited Uncle Rick in Chicago were we saw the Cubs avenge the Indian slaughter at the Little Big Horn by deveating the Tribe at historic Wrigley Field.

Early in the summer we were able to spend some time at White Lake…

where we enjoyed beautiful sunsets…

ate ice cream on the new rooftop patio of the ice cream joint…

…enjoyed eating pizza outside with Al Fresco…

and made various side-trips:


...to Lake Michigan for some sunbathing…

…to the amusement park for a roller-coaster ride. Grif & Lauren are up there somewhere & where we enjoyed…

…fine dining!

To Saugatuck where Grif discovered he was named after a street…

…and where The Old Curmudgeon and Bella found a quiet place to rest.

The waining of Summer is the harbinger of marching band preparation. The Marching Dragons began rehearsals in August.

Choreography is key in a band performance. Here we see Grif learning a few steps.

Don't ask about this. The explanation is much too disturbing.

Eventually it's time to get out onto the practice field with instruments.

Finally it's time to don the uniform.

On the scoreboard at Lucas Oil Stadium

On the field


Lauren spends a moment with Grif and Chase at one of the many competitions this year.

I Know, It's Only Rock & Roll…

We recently had the occasion to travel to the Cleveland area to celebrate the graduation of Rachel & Emily from Fairview High. These two young ladies are stellar athletes and superior students. It was nice to catch up with them and their parents for a couple of days. While there several of us took some time to make a pilgrimage to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

This is not traditional architecture.

Pilgrims Grif, Bobbie, Emily and Tom.

A number of artists were invited to create guitar art for the museum. Grif poses between a George Harrison tribute and the guitar created by Yoko Ono.

The Old Curmudgeon (impersonating a Bath Rugby player) and Grifmeister

You know how it is at these things. You're having so much fun you forget to eat. The food at the Rock Hall looked a bit too healthy and we were afraid of what it might do to our systems. On the drive home, we were fortunate enough to spy this hardy entrepreneurial purveyor of bunned delicacies.

Upon arriving home on Sunday night, we were greeted by a message that had been left earlier that morning about Lauren's week at church camp. It seems that we had the wrong month on our calendars –– we thought it was in July. In reality, it started that morning and the group leaving the church parking lot was calling about where we were. As Homer Simpson might say, "Doh!" Lauren was inconsolable, as in "You KNOW that's my favorite thing in the UNIVERSE!" The good news is that we were able to get her there the next day, due to some quick scheduling foot work and a long drive by Bobbie.

Here's the photographic proof: Lauren rejoicing in the lake with one of her friends. All's well that ends well.

8th Grade Graduation

Grif "graduated" from eighth grade this week. The word graduated is in quotes because in The Old Curmudgeon's world getting through eigth grade was no big deal. Catfish always thought it was a big accomplishment for my cousins ––an accomplishment that warranted a hefty cash award. It was a different story for the then young Curmudgeon. When he enquired of C.G. about getting a little taste of the action at the end of eighth grade all he received was an amused look. However, you should know that The Old Curmudgeon is not still bitter. Honest. Anyway, we were talking about Grif, so let's just move along, shall we?

Ahem, Grif "graduated" from eighth grade this week. Some of the parents organized a dance for the kids (since the school also didn't seem to think it was such a big deal, but I digress) at the United Methodist Church. Grif, having just this morning had his teeth paroled from the Orthodontia Penitentery, donned his most formal all-black and slightly scary outfit for the big event.

Yeah, that thing around his neck is a tie. Hey, this is a formal event!

In Memoriam -- The SwingSet: 2000 – 2009

Memorial Day Weekend was innaugurated this year by the demolition of the trusty swing apparatus that has kept Grif and Lauren slightly amused for nearly a decade. 

Pictured here in happier times, the youthful-looking swing set goes through its paces with the kids.

The swing set has seen a number of things over its life. Here a young Grif clearly contemplates some deviltry involving the startling of Lauren.

And here, Grif (Call-Me-Sir-Edmund) triumphantly celebrates at the summit.

And yet as Dema used to say, "All good  things come to an end." By the way, this idea was later taken and reworked by George Harrison and made the title song of his first solo album opus. Dema never got credit for any of it. She was too kind to sue George. But, I digress. Having become a bit tired and exhibiting a decided leaning tendency in old age, the faithful swing set was, as Grandpa Pete used to say, put out of its misery .  It might be of interest to know that the contraption did not go quietly into the good night, but, in the end, put up a worthy fight.

Grif & The Old Curmudgeon wrestle a resistive section to the ground.

Grif, a student of Thor, takes a whack with the sledge hammer.

This end of an era signals, of course, the beginnings of new eras. Where once Grif would slay climb mountains, slay dragons and fly in space ships in the backyard play area, he is now more likely to be found at marching band practice…

As a matter of fact, here he is at the recent band awards banquet, being recognized along with Jake Blues.

Everything Old is New Again

The Old Curmudgeon is called "Old" for a reason. He is old enough to have forgotten many things. And yet, there are a few things that stick in his aged mind. One of them is the memory of when Spring Break was thought of as Easter Vacation. The "vacation" part referred to a vacation from school. It was unheard of for the family to actually take a vacation during this time. But I have already digressed. Spring Break started yesterday in our part of the universe. To start it off with a bang, we all stopped in at Bazbeux's Pizza for a couple of shatteringly good pies. The Old & Mrs Curmudgeon enjoyed the TCHOUPITOULAS pizza, involving Cajun shrimp, roasted red pepper, green pepper, red onion, andouille sausage and fresh garlic. So nice. The children, not being so adventureous and also not able to agree (can you imagine?) engineered a 1/2 cheese and 1/2 pepperoni with extra cheese production.

Digesting our pizza. You can tell Grif is really happy with his mother drawing attention to us by snapping a picture in the restaurant. Of course, Lauren is always game for a photo op.

After dinner we strolled over to the very friendly Indy CD & Vinyl to go back in time a bit and look over their extensive collection of new and vintage vinyl.

Then, it was off to Clowes Hall to enjoy a performance by Rain. It was a remarkable simulation of the Fab Four at each stage of their musical development. Present were a few old geezers like TOC, but, suprisingly, many more folks that looked to be in their twenties. And the sub-eighteen demographic was also well represented. The multi-media show included a number of projected slides that allowed for the family competition of shouting "I was there!" to the likely bewilderment of fellow patrons.

Here Grif and The Old Curmudgeon, near the end of intermission, await the second half of the show.

Having had a splendid time, Lauren gets an early start on her beauty sleep on the way home.

The Play's The Thing

Grif trod the boards late this week in the middle school production of Kokonut High, about an island woman who tries to salvage her resort by opening a private high school after a hurricane has eliminated her tourist business. The school promises a diploma to all who can pay the tuition. Talk about Charter schools, we may be looking for this place next year, but The Old Curmudgeon digresses. Grif's character is Roy Boy, the lazy son of the entrepreneurial woman.

The families of the young thespians were invited to a special dinner theater at which were served some of the finest school cafeteria selections available. Just as the heart burn began to flare up, the lights began to dim and it was showtime!

Here is Roy Boy listening to the insurance agent who (can you believe it?) is explaining the reasons why the school's policy won't be covering any of the things the school thought it would be covering. Hey, this is pretty realistic!

And there she goes…

A noted feature of this play is a production number that pays tribute to Taylor Martin. In case you don't recognize him, that's Roy "Boy" in the middle.

A final shot of Grif with many of the cast in his final middle school production.

Grif's 14th Birthday

Grif awoke to the traditional banner and a few gifts, guarded by faithful Bella (in case Lauren gets any ideas).

The young film-maker-to-be shows off his first video camera. We are expecting to get full credit in any award acceptance speeches for this early support by his parents.

Later, there was an incendiary moment involving cake.

Older? Yes. Wiser? Where is that jury?

Acapulco Joe's

The Old Curmudgeon and Grif got up bright and early this morning to make a pilgrimage to Acapulco Joe's Mexican restaurant in Indy. Joe has passed on now, but his mighty restaurant and traditional recipes live on. This was Grif's first trip and he was duly impressed.

Pictures were taken with the phone camera, which, it appears, was not really designed for taking pictures. Just so you know that Grif isn't normally blurry in real life.

Behold a masterpiece! Scrambled eggs with peppers & onions alongside refried beans topped with cheese and a tortilla with butter & honey. Top it off with the signature home-made salsa and add a cup of Joe's famous coffee and it can't be beat.