For nearly two decades, our former neighbor Charlie Stocker (Uncle Charlie to the girls) has led a group to Meramec Springs outside of St. James for a camping trip the last weekend of September. We’ve been part of it most of that time being the most consistent second thread to the group. A year or two back, the organization that runs the Meramec Springs changed the camping fee structure to add additional charges of $8 per person, there by nearly quadrupling the costs for a family of 4. Between that, a desire for a change of scenery and some positive feedback from people who have gone before, we switched to Pulltite campground in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
Curti at the entrance to Pulltite
Although it is just over an hour further south for everyone, it was a hit at $12 a site or car. The campground is similar to the springs (nearby flush toilets and running water with showers a bit further off). There’s no fish hatchery but we didn’t miss the starting horn going off at 7 am either.
This year marked the year where the girls set up and stayed in their own tent (our 1994 Jansport 3-person tent) instead of staying in the family 6 person Eureka tent (a wedding present from the neighbors including Charlie). The entire family was happy with their new independence a few layers of nylon and 20 feet away.
On Saturday, Randy and the girls joined the group in our green canoe for a float trip down the Current River from Aker’s Ferry back down to the Pulltite campground. The presence of 5-6 current and former Girl Scouts and a YMCA camper of many years lead to the group being serenaded for the livery bus ride to Aker’s Ferry (e.g. Bill Crogan’s Goat, The Ship Titanic, Little Bunny FuFu, Mr. Mr. Johnny Trebeck etc.). Recent rains the float pretty nice with only a few places where we hit bottom. Randy used a kayak paddle, which helped control the canoe immensely with the sporadic and erratic help from the young assistants in the front.
Curtis Floaters ready to hit the Current River
Lunch was a bit of a letdown with Randy having packed some MREs he bought 6 years earlier that did not age well. Fortunately there were M&Ms and skittles included that were still mostly palatable along with some Plan B cheese and crackers that became the core of the meal. The crawdads were tempting but...
Enjoying the culinary delights of the river
The best part was visiting Cave Spring that you can paddle into 70 feet or so.
Cave Spring by ThomasHart Benton
The Curti and Holmeses exploring Cave Spring
Bethany and Elisabeth skipped the river, choosing to explored and have lunch in nearby Salem.
As in the last few years, at night we enjoyed the spirit of the communal campfire with hollow log fires (Beneficent and Pyroific Order of Hollow Logs [BPOHL]). Many of us had saved soda and beer cardstock cases to feed the flume of fire (some even going so far as to wax their stash of Mountain Dew boxes for an additional foot or two of effect). Even Cate got in the spirit of wanting to toss them in alongside the 50-something year old boys present. In keeping with delayed male maturity, Randy bought a cool double ended General Grevis light-saber on clearance at a Wal-Mart on the way down, making for the coolest flashlight ever (not that we really needed one with a full moon).
Pulltite Hollow log Circle
Feeding soda boxes to the Hollow log
After another good night’s sleep, on Sunday morning we showed the girls how to start a fire while camping with Randy actually encouraging them to practice lighting matches until they got the hang of it. Afterwards they insisted on lighting the matches for the propane stove to make Slingers/Nightmares (eggs and chili) for breakfast (at least that’s what Anthony and Randy did).
Jane and Cate built a fire
(with lots of help)
JoAnn, Annie, Elisabeth, Bethany, Charlie and Maggie
Randy and Bethany at Pulltite
Curti at Pulltite
Rock Jock(ette)s
While picking up a new belt at REI, we serendipitously were there during one of their open climbing wall nights and both girls enjoyed reaching the top.
The first weekend in October, we took a group of 4th graders and their siblings to Elephant Rocks on a beautiful fall day. We had a great time with the kids playing hide and seek and bouldering. Also we witnessed again the benefits of a filter lens on a camera when dropped as it sacrificed itself for the good of the camera.
WGCS kids at Elephant Rocks
Soccer Saturdays (...Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
With school year start, the girls started playing for Holy Redeemer soccer teams in the CYC after sticking with the YMCA. CYC is a bit more serious with practices during the week making dinner an uncomfortable rush on those nights to make it to the Hawken House fields at Southwest Park by six. It makes the 6:30 start for PSR on Monday seem downright luxurious. From September to November its Soccer Saturdays for the Curtises visiting fields all over the county. We know there will come a time in 10 years where we’ll be melancholy about Soccer Saturdays but it’s not there yet.
Cate stands up to the MQP girls
Jane meets a Mary Magadelin player
On the positive side: free Dilly Bars at DQ when in uniform
Reunions and Leaf Peeping in PA
In mid October, we made the trek to southwestern Pennsylvania for Bethany’s 20th reunion at Washington and Jefferson College (she was an organizer for her class). We’re those “sort” of parents taking the girls out of school for three days (Thursday, Friday and Monday). As the girls advance in school that is becoming a bigger issue. It is hard to feel too guilty, as it was a gorgeous drive to Pittsburgh at the peak of leaf peeping season with fabulous fall colors all the way. Our hotel was the new Fairfield Inn on Neville Island, which with several chemical plants and a refinery isn’t known as the garden spot of Pittsburgh but the area were as was nicely redeveloped and our room had a grand view of the Ohio River and the I-76 bridge.
View from the Fairfield Inn on Neville Island
On Friday, Bethany met up with her BFFs Heather and Paula for the day in WashPA. Meanwhile Randy and the girls drove up to Beaver along Ohio River Road to visit his Rolla pal Matt. Matt took us in his Mini to Rogers Ohio Open Air Market. It’s a rural flea market consisting mostly of off branded items that even the Dollar store wouldn’t carry like the pack of 18 “Shoupie” markers for $2 (as opposed to Sharpies), a laser LED flashlights for $2 or “Band-ez”. There were also lots of vendors of cheap knives, pellet guns, Steelers gear, assorted yard sale junk, used books, antique and new-low quality hardware and live stock (goats, bunnies and chickens with 15% of their feathers missing). The girls had their heart stolen by some coonhound puppies for $25. The folks didn’t seem like the low-end puppy breeders (there were a few of those too) but just folks with a half dozen puppies they hoped to find good homes for. I think I said a months of NOs over the next couple of hours to Jane’s pleas for a dog. I’m definitely thinking Where the Red Fern Grows needs to be in their future. There were some great deals on Amish backed goods we can hardily recommend Mary’s Doughnuts that were as big as the girl’s heads. We also got some excellent cherry pie for $5.50 and a pint of pickled garlic for $3. The food was the best part besides the general entertainment factor of the stuff. There was also a guy selling a traffic light (aluminum) for $150 that would have been just the sort of thing I would have bought as a bachelor.
With Matt and doughnuts as big as their heads
Cate and Jane with the Pittsburgh skyline from Mount Washington
On Saturday, we rejoined Bethany’s for the reunion at the Pi Beta Phi house and their Cookie Shine and later the indoors tailgate with the class (over half of which came based on B’s urging).
Heather, Paula and Bethany at 20 Year reunion
Leaving W&J after lunch, we spent the rest of the afternoon with Bethany’s Great Aunt Sissy before leaving Washington, PA (and the pilgrimage to the State Store to load up on cases of Schaefer, Yuengling and Genesee Cream Ale making us would be bootleggers in the eyes of several states statues we crossed going home).
The girls with their Great (Great) Aunt Sissy
If that wasn’t enough reason to visit, we spent evenings and Sunday with Aunt Katie, Uncle Don (and Robert on Friday). As the norm, we had takeout pizza or Chinese, stayed up way too late with conversations about family, politics and ideas. It would be nice to live closer to them.
Jane sporting a Little Eddie of Grey Gardens look with Aunt Katie
In mid-October also celebrated Rand’s mom birthday by taking her out to dinner then returning home for some yummy German Chocolate cake that girls made earlier in the day. We’re very fortunate to be able to spend so much time with our parents (and they want to spend so much time with their grandchildren allowing us to go out without them).
Celebrating Nana's 74th Birthday
Halloween
For the first time, the Curti participated in the growing trend of Trunk or Treat (or trick-or-treating from parked car to car). Our neighborhood is plenty safe for actual trick-or-treating with sidewalks on both sides of the street. Trunk or Treat seemed like an unneeded excuse for the kids to get even MORE candy than they need. Still, the tradition at the school was for the 5th grade parents to organize it as a fundraiser to offset the costs of sending kids to Camp Wyman or a week, so we figured we ought to be passingly familiar with it, if we’re going to be involved next year. Randy had the day off at home and was able help out with the girls Halloween parties as school and decorate the Sienna using black plastic, black lights and some florescent images to put forth a better than average entry (those years of bachelor Halloween party experiences came in handy for slapping together quickly).
WGCS Trunk or Treat at the Sienna
This year Cate decided to be Princess Leia after becoming quite the Star Wars over the summer. She was pretty good at striking a pose with her Dad’s light saber from camping. Her joke:
What’s a Jedi’s favorite car? A to-Yoda.
Princess Leia and Alice
Jane was Alice from Wonderland after Randy suggested this would be about the last year she could pull it off. Her joke was a non-theme related one: Why did the cookie go to the hospital? Because he felt crumby.
She did consider using the actual Mad Hatter’s riddle: Why is a raven like a writing desk?
"Have you guessed the riddle yet?" the Hatter said, turning to Alice again.
"No, I give it up," Alice replied. "What's the answer?"
"I haven't the slightest idea," said the Hatter.
"Nor I," said the March Hare.
Alice sighed wearily. "I think you might do something better with the time," she said, "than wasting it in asking riddles that have no answers."
There isn’t an answer in the books and many have provided ones over the years. My favorite answer is: Because the notes for which they are noted are not noted for being musical notes. (Puzzle maven Sam Loyd, 1914)
What if Alice were a Jedi?
Cate striking a Jedi pose
November
The aftermath of Halloween included haircuts for Bethany and Jane. Bethany wanted to wait until after she had the required length to donate them to Locks of Love and also after her W&J reunion in case the haircut went awry. The short haircuts never do go awry and she always looks good with short hair, having met her husband that way. :) Jane waited until she finished being Alice. Both are sporting sassy hairdos while Cate’s remains long. Randy’s has a continually enlarging bald spot much the Arctic Ozone hole but is essentially the same style his entire life.
Bethany Before
With Jane After
Long haired Cate (with and Cousin George)
Like most everyone else in the nation, we were glad for end of election cycle on November 06, and the ancillary media noise and political hyperbole. A very pleasant treat on Election Day was our polling place, the local Methodist church, providing cookies and coffee while in line. A pleasurable community outreach of hospitality among the vitriol that have become the norm in our elections.
In early November, Randy and Jane salvaged the end pieces of the old and obsolete Sage family crib to create a triple-decker bunk bed for the girls American Girl dolls. It also works for small dogs.
Triple Decker Doll Bunk Bed
Guusie
Gussie on Veteran's Day
Speaking of little dogs, at 6 ½ months Gussie continues to be leggy, standing 15 inches and weighing 21 lbs, which means she has gained 9 pounds since the 4 month point. She has also already surpassed the upper weight and height range for the CKCS breed (normal: 18 pounds and 13 inches) and it’s unclear when she will stop growing. Perhaps she’s like Clifford the Big Red Dog who continues growing because of Emily Elizabeth's love for her tiny red puppy. By Thanksgiving, Gussie turned the corner on potty training and has only had accidents when the girls didn’t’ linger outside long enough with her to poop. She remains a bit of a femme fatale (i.e. kiss, kiss, bit) but her puppy biting is much reduced. She realizes she is not the Alpha of the Curtis pack but she can be a bully to the girls or toddler nephews as she attempts to assert her dominance in the pecking order. Her favorite activity is having someone toss her red ball, which she chases and returns to have it tossed again (and again, and again, and again…). She likes being hugged or at least acquiesces to such attention from the girls (and Randy and Bethany to be honest).
Cate Gussie and Bethany face the wind
Jane and Gussie
As fond of her as we are, we could love her more if she:
• Didn’t love chewing up any bits of paper lying about or tissues, particularly used ones (blyuck!)
• Didn’t get nauseous immediately in a moving car, vomiting within 2 miles
• and didn’t love to bolt out the door and run amok among the neighborhood
The last trait particularly unnerves us, as she sees it as great fun getting us all out trying to pin her down, headless of any cars in the street.
Fall was unseasonably warm for the most part, allowing for many additional days of comfortable outdoor fun. The girls had the training wheels removed from their bikes and made progress but there have still been no family excursions along one of the many bike trails in the area as we dreamed of for a while.
Jane sans training wheels
Cate takes a break
and expresses an opinion to the cameraman
Dad and the girls also enjoyed geocaching with the Shaw cousins in Deer Creek & Rocket Park (in Mid December).
Finding a Geocache in Deer Creek Park
Thanksgiving
We had a pleasant Thanksgiving with the Curtis clan followed by Sage Thanksgiving on Friday.
Curtis Thanksgiving
On Saturday, we took the cousins swimming at the Indy Sage hotel pool followed by ice-skating at Brentwood Ice Rink. The skating proved most memorable with Randy taking a header while helping nephew Lloyd, who was channeling Bambi on ice. His head thumped loudly as it bounced on the ice and he was monetarily really scared as liquid was instantly flowing out of his nose before realizing it was only sinus drainage and not blood rushing out. There was blood coming from the other side of the head where scalp burst open but nothing particular serious. It hurt but there wasn’t a killer headache and the pain quickly ebbed (no blacking out or concussion, another thing to be thankful for). Brentwood cleared everyone off the ice, brought out the hazardous material spray, chipped out the blood and Zamboni-ed the spot as they took down on contact information (apparently, so we wouldn’t sue them). Bethany took Randy to Des Peres Hospital (the quietest, non-trauma, closest hospital) to get stitches. It actually turned out to be five staples and we got to keep the stapler too. On the positive side, we won’t have to coerce the girls into wearing helmets in the future (they were the only ones wearing theirs having gotten in the habit during lessons at Brentwood). Alvan, who was taking pictures from the bench, didn’t take any pictures of the events out of respect for the wounded. The respect didn’t last too longer as he took the group shot of the tribe before leaving.
Sympathy from the Sage Skating party
Furthering the whimsy, at the family gathering after the hospital visit, Alvan submitted the following bill to Bethany and Randy.
Bill of Cleanup Services
It took us a minute or two of reading it before catching on to the well-crafted joke.
During the fall, Bethany completed reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone to the family, displaying a wonderful talent for character voices. After she finished we watched the film for the first time, which set off a bit of a Potter frenzy here with Cate rereading the book and sneaking another viewing of the DVD whenever she could. She quickly moved onto the second book so we can watch the next film too (family rule that they had to read the story first before watching the movies in order to get a fuller appreciation). It also reignited Jane who began the Goblet of Fire (#4), which is when the stories turn a bit darker.
We also continued the girl’s cine-file education, watching various classics such as: A Hard Day’s Night, Holiday Inn, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Old Yeller and episodes of the Twilight Zone ( Kicked the Can, Eye of the Beholder, Time Enough At Last). With the family owned Hi-Pointe Theatre’s 90th Anniversary celebration this year, they began showing classics on the big screen and we began attending once we heard including: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and at the actual 90th Anniversary party show: Georges Méliès “A Trip to the Moon” (as re-popularized in Scorsese’s Hugo) and the pinnacle of the Rodgers and Astaire films Top Hat (not the best one but the best summation of all of them).
Jane at the HiPointe
Cate & Jane at Top Hat
December Concerts
On Thursday, December 13, 2012, the girls had their school winter concert with a theme of trails west (Erie Canal, Rio Grande etc). Cate introduce the railroad song / spiritual Train is A Comin’ and Jane introduced the “famous hobo song” Big Rock Candy Mountain. We kind of missed the holiday aspects that were part of such concerts of our youth but thoroughly enjoyed the “This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land” by the ensemble. A little left for some taste but part of the cultural heritage of the 20th century.
Cate plunking out a tune
Jane on the xylophone
We satisfied our Holiday concert desires filled with the girls Christmas piano recital. Jane played Carol of the Bells and Cate did Let it Snow. They both did a vocal duet of Mele Kalikimaka. Below is a link to the girls practicing their duet, which is much more entertaining than the actual concert version as Cate froze and didn’t move at all (she did sing). Bethany, I, and others in the audience were doing our best to telekinetically get her to move and dance with our will to no avail. It was very reminiscent of watching them play baseball and willing them to get a hit. We’ll remember the practice version.
On the last full day of Fall (and Randy’s last day at work in 2012), he had a peculiar incident on the way home. As coworkers were preparing to leave and discussing the weather, particularly the wind, we checked out the NWS site, which noted 45 mph with gusts of 67 mph at the airport. I was concerned for those that had to drive miles on the Interstate to Sullivan but wasn’t concerned in the least for myself as a Metrolink rider. That would change an hour later while struggling, walking face first leaning 45 degree into a sustained wind along Spruce Street on the trek to Civic Center station. As I turned to have the wind at my back instead, the wind gust caught my glasses and swept them off. Laughing at first, I knelt and began feeling around for them in my near-blinded state (I can’t see the big E on the eye charts with my glasses). My bemusement quickly turned to anxiety, as I wasn’t finding them. Fortunately, when I got the glasses a couple months ago, I stashed my old pair of Ray Bans in my brief case in case the new bifocals gave me headaches. Digging them out, I could once again see. I set my briefcase down to better search for the glasses, and the hollowing wind grabbed it sending some of the contents bopping down the sidewalk, including my metal utensils from lunch, (yes, the wind was blowing a fork and spoon down Spruce Street). I regathered what I could and fortunately didn’t lose my GSA building badge. I continued my search for my glasses for another 20 minutes to no avail. The memory of the utensil skirting down the street, didn’t give me much confidence that the glasses remained within the 150-foot search arc of where they blew off. I was chagrinned to realize that had one of the girls told me such a story about losing their glasses, I wouldn’t have believed it. Truth is stranger than fiction at times.
The Curtis Clan - Fall 2012
