Letters From the Loony Bin

And the race is on...........gymnastics season has begun.....

Last weekend we kicked off the competition season with a trip to the Cities for a mock meet. It wasn't like any meet we've ever attended. The girls were judged by certified judges, however in lieu of actual scores, they received valuable feedback on where and why they are receiving deductions in their routines, and what they need to do to improve their scores.

The beam lived up to it's nickname, the BBB (big, bad beam), for most of our girls, but all rallied on the their floor and vault routines. Miss J looked awesome on vault and floor, and although bars are her favorite apparatus, she now knows there is room for improvement. We have little over a month before the next meet, so the coaches, armed with the valuable information that was collected last weekend, will use this time to make improvements in the aforementioned areas.

A Blast From the Past Christmas.....

Updating lately has been challenge to say the least. Fall is quickly becoming my least favorite season as it is my busy time at work. (I use the term "busy" rather loosely! It's more overwhelming than anything!) The fall semester thankfully came to an end and things have all but ground to a halt. With the gymnastics season upon us, I figured I better get on the ball and update my blog.

Recently Miss J had her Christmas program at school. They did a rendition of Christmas throughout the decades. She wisely chose the 50s era as she already had the costume from Halloween. Mom was thankful!

The Wizard of Odd......

In the summer county fairs pop up all over the landscape. The kick-off to the Marshall County fair is the annual parade. Businesses and organizations from all over the region line up to cruise down the small town streets. My godfather's company is no exception. I am certain that they must plan their float theme at least six months in advance. This year's theme was the Wizard of Oz....or rather the Wizard of Odd! (Yep, that's him, in the dress, with the little dog in the basket!) Following the parade we took Miss J to the midway to ride some rides, have some dinner, and of course enjoy some fair treats!

Chicago...........the band......not the city.....

Since I was a small child music was prevalent in our house. My parents were products of the 60s and rock was the genre of choice. I attribute my love of classic rock to the many hours the turn table cranked out The Doobie Brothers, The Moody Blues, The Guess Who, Bread, and the like. One band in particular was everyone's favorite....Chicago. Currently I think I own every Chicago album and song ever written.

Recently my mom, dad, Miss J, Sister K, and myself packed into the car and headed south to Stillwater where Chicago was to perform at Lumberjack Days. It was hotter than Hades in the park and we waited for what seemed like an eternity, but the show was one of the best I've seen. They did not disappoint performing for over two hours. After over four decades on the music scene they have not lost their spark and it is evident why old fans stay loyal and the band has gained a new generation of followers.

The Haymarket in Huskerville....

During our recent road trip to Lincoln, I had an entire afternoon to explore the city's Historic Haymarket district. One of Lincoln's oldest neighborhoods, the Haymarket is a historic warehouse and industrial district. In recent decades, it has become a dining, specialty shopping, and urban living district, with a variety of visual and performing arts and nightlife.

Dorm Rooms, Dances, and an Old Friend...

Camp at the University of Nebraska was a big hit. Miss J had a great time staying in the dorms, eating in the cafeteria, meeting new gymnasts, and hanging out with current teammates. We attended skit night and the wrap-up session the last day of camp where her group performed a dance routine they had been working on all week.

Miss J also was reunited with her former teammate and pre-competitive coach, Laura, who attends UNL and competes for the Husker gymnastics team. Laura was named NCAA All American this year on floor and vault and it was a thrill for Miss J to spend time with her.

We were glad to be home after a long 8+ hour drive. Gym dad was especially excited to see his girls home just in time for Father's Day.

Waking up in Huskerville....

Yesterday four girls, two women and a mountain of luggage set out on a drive that included everything from long stretches of construction and pouring rain to back seat karaoke. After eight and a half hours we arrived at our hotel next to the University of Nebraska campus. Today I woke up in Lincoln, Nebraska.

This afternoon we dropped off our gymnasts at a five day camp at UNL. The dorm rooms were small, but the girls were excited.

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