In the Good Ole' Summertime

I am not a summer person. I do not tolerate the heat well, I hate chiggers and mosquitoes, and I really detest grasshoppers. Snakes come out when it is warm and they scare the pee out of me. I have enough hair on my head for three people and I have said for years I was obviously meant to live further north than Kansas with that kind of insulation.

It has been my contention for years that there are just a few things in life that make summer bearable. They are baseball, fresh vine-rippened tomatoes, vacations, and Music Theatre of Wichita.

Baseball has definitely lost its glitter. None of the teams I like are peforming at a professional level. Although I don't think steriod use is a matter for Congress to waste its time on, I do think it has really spoiled the game, for me anyway.

Vine-rippened tomatoes from our own garden have been hard to come by lately. They have drowned out the last few years. Fortunately Bob and Jana grow enough for the whole city, so we do still get to enjoy them.

Since Harry retired from Boeing and went to work for Spirit (not necessarily a voluntary decision), he has been unable to get a handle on how much vacation time he has, so vacations have almost become a thing of the past also.

This bring us to the one remaining summer bright spot - Music Theatre. I am a late-comer. It has been around 35 years and, although I attended my first show in the early 1990's, I have not become a real affacianado until the last few years. I discovered that I really love live theatre.

Saturday night Harry and I went to "The Full Monty". I wanted to see it but I have to admit that I was a little anxious also. The idea of full frontal nudity is not an attraction to me, but I had listened to the sound track and knew just enough about the story (I have not seen the movie) to know I wanted to go. GOOD IDEA! I loved it. The nudity part was so minor and so not visible that it was really a non-factor.

I will have to admit that this play would not be for everyone. The subject matter pretty much dictates some rough language and portions some would find objectionable. But I found it to be so funny and entertaining. I did not realize it was a 2 hour and 45 minute show until we got back in the car after it was over and I saw the time. I laughed and laughed and laughed. And I have been listening to the CD of the soundtrack ever since. So my recommendation is if you get a chance, go see "The Full Monty". Unless you are easily offended. Then go see "The Sound of Music". There is something for everyone in the theatre.

As Long as I Am Complaining

Harry and I went for a stroll down by the river downtown Saturday evening between stuffing ourselves at Famous Daves and attending the Music Theatre of Wichita's production of "The Full Monty".

The Hyatt Hotel has a lovely water feature. It is a wall with water running down both sides into rectangular pools with steps in them, kind of like a fish ladder.

At intervals of about six feet all along the water feature are plaques on short brick pillars. These plaques say "Help preserve our water feature. No wading or swimming." (I may not have quoted it verbatum, but close enough to convey the intent.)

It amazed me to see that the pool at the base of the wall was if not full, nearly so, of people of all ages wading. (the water wasn't really deep enough for swimming.) What amazed me even more was that these were not people who were just in the area on a hot Kansas nearly summer evening and couldn't resist the pull of the cool water. These people were there specifically to play in the water. They came in their swimsuits, brought their lawn chairs and beer, and had multiple young children in tow. Of course, once the children were in the water they were not carefully supervised. And I don't want to be a snob or seem to be stereotyping, but these also were pretty obviously not people who were staying in the hotel.

I haven't checked with the hotel to see if they relaxed their rules and just couldn't afford to remove the posted signs, but I doubt if that is the case.

Two things bother me about this. First, I am always bothered by the attitude that "the rules don't apply to me" or "the rules apply to me but they are inconvenient or contrary to my wishes, so I will just ignore them". Second, if the behavior on Saturday night was standard, it is just a matter of time before some young child drowns in that pool and the Hyatt gets hit with a lawsuit.

This came on the heels of two people speeding past Kristy and me through Eastborough earlier in the day and neither of them getting stopped and ticketed. That so rarely happens - the Eastborough policeman must have been on his break.

Well, the play was wonderful and I have a new favorite song - "You Walk With Me". But more about that later.

Getting From Point A to Point B

Wichita is a city, but not a large one. At least half of it is in Western Kansas (By my standards, anything west of Broadway in Wichita is Western Kansas.) so it stands to reason that it is flat, uninterrupted by many bodies of water, and pretty much on a grid. This may be unexciting but does make it fairly easy to navigate. If your path is obstructed you just go a few blocks out of your way and go around the obstacle.

But sometimes the sun, moon, and stars are in a diabolical allignment and the above evasive manuever does not work. This morning was one of those times for me.

I realize that living on the west side of town and working on the east side (a very strong distinction in the culture of the city) is my own fault, so I am partially to blame for the predicament in which I found myself.

My usual route from home to work is to take 37th Street North from my neighborhood all the way across town to the east until I reach Oliver Street. What happens after that is not really relevant. This is a pretty direct route and avoids the congestion on the interestates. The one drawback to this route is that there is a train track just on the east side of Broadway, but I am usually able to use the above mentioned tactics to handle that.

This morning, as I approached Broadway I saw there was a train. When I got closer I could see that, although it was moving along, it was pretty long. I decided to turn right on Broadway, go down to either Central Ave. (the street my office is on) or First Street, which is one way going east and goes under the train tracks.

As I traveled down Broadway, I noticed that there was not only the moving train which was blocking 37th Street, but another stationary train was blocking all the intersections of Broadway with east bound streets until 21st Street. So I thought I had made a pretty good decision.

I got to Central and realized there was THIRD train coming which could quite possibly block Central so I went down to First Street, turned left and headed east only to find that First Street was closed for construction at St. Francis. So thinks I "I can go south on St. Francis to Douglas which also has an underpass and head East on that to Hydraulic, head back north on Hydraulic to Central and scoot on east to my office." (The advantage of a city on a grid.)

Imagine my surprise when, after going under the train tracks at Douglas, I found that Douglas was also closed before I got to Hydraulic. There were tents set up in the street and it appeared that either there was some kind of "festival" or troops had been moved into town.

If I knew where to lodge a complaint I would. I am sorry I work on the east and live on the west. I am sorry that I don't take the highway because the traffic backs up so badly on it I might as well walk. I am sorry that I can't get onto I235 at Broadway anyway when there is a train because I cannot make a left turn onto Boradway unless I run the indefinite red light there for east bound traffic when there is a train. I am sorry I refuse to cut across the parking lot which has potholes rivaling the Badlands. But do all the shortfalls on my part really mean that I should be almost prohibited from getting to my job? Is it really smart to close off a main street for a festival when all the other main streets are closed for either construction or trains? I might as well be in Virginia trying to get through the tunnel.

Well, I have sounded off and I don't feel the least bit better! I am still pissed.

Stop Already!

Back in December in Seattle I bought the book "Talk to the Hand" by Lynn Truss. I have just this week started reading it and find it interesting and amusing.
The book deals with the preponderance of rudeness in today's world and the reasons for it. One of her chapters is "Why am I Doing This?", talking about how now we spend a lot of time on automated phone systems and computer "clicking", meekly doing what someone tells us in order to accomplish something which is really mutually beneficial. Not a really clear description, but the best I can do briefly.

One of my aggravations at work is receiving unsolicited telemarketing faxes. As a very small non-profit with limited income and a tight budget, it is maddening to have these things coming in - 99% of which have no application to us anyway - using our imaging film, our paper, and tying up our fax. Additionally I spend time calling the toll free numbers listed to be removed from their fax list. I do this even though I have the sneaking suspicion that making the call actually gets me put on other lists. There is no way to tell, since the numbers are always different and the company headings also change.

Last week I meekly obeyed the orders to call the toll free number and have us removed from a company's faxing list. After I had punched in a pin and our fax number (followed by the # sign), I was informed by a recording that they would be faxing me confirmation that my number would be removed! I wanted to scream; in fact, I think I did scream, knowing the futility of screaming at a recording. "I want my number removed so we are not using our paper, fax time, and imaging film on your stupid faxes. Don't fax me a confirmation!"

I got a little excited when I saw the government was considering a "no fax" list until I realized that, like the no-call list, it would be for home faxes only. I also understand they have given up as it would be impossible to enforce.

I did one contact the Kansas Attorney General's office when a company kept sending me faxes, but - and here is a big surprise - I got no response from the Attorney General. Considering our AG, I would just as soon get telemarketing faxes as hear from him.

Movie Review

Yesterday I saw a great movie. Here is a list of the things that impressed me so:

1. It is original. Not a sequel. Not based on a mediocre TV show.
2. The writing and acting are superb.
3. I understand it was made for $8 million dollars, which seems like a lot of money to me but is a pittance as far as movies are concerned.
4. It has a mighty message but does not hit you over the head with it.
5. It is a true story from the 1950's but is so current it is amazing.
6. It held my attention from beginning to end.

Now for the thing that depressed me:
Harry, Kristy and I were the only people in the theatre watching this movie. Granted it was the 3:50 showing on a Monday afternoon and there probably weren't 50 cars in the whole theatre parking lot when we went in. And it was kind of like our own private screening. But everyone should see this movie, even though if everyone did, half of them "wouldn't get it".

The movie? "Good Night, and Good Luck" In my book it is a must see.

Movies which should be included in history/social studies curriculum:
"All the President's Men"
"All the King's Men"
"Good Night, and Good Luck"
"To Kill a Mockingbird" (I think it should be included in every list!)
"The Diary of Ann Frank"
"Twelve Angry Men"
Although I have not seen them, I would assume that "Schindler's List" and "Judgment at Nuremburg" should be.
The whole Ken Burns Civil War series.


I am sure there are others that just are not coming to my mind or of which I am not aware. I would also add the play, either read or performed, "The Crucible". There was a movie made a few years ago but knowing Hollywood I doubt it was true to the play. Had I thought it was I would have seen it. I first saw that play when I was a senior in high school - 1963 - and it knocked my socks off. At that time it was by far the most powerful story I had seen. "Good Night, and Good Luck" is a great companion piece.

See it. Please.

Makeover and Health Care

The following is an article about scholarships for the children involved in the Extreme Home Makeover in Rose Hill.

Posted on Tue, Oct. 25, 2005

For family, five 'Extreme' scholarships

BY BECCY TANNER

The Wichita Eagle

When Karen, Susan, Jenny, Katie and Jessie Nutsch are ready for college, they are assured full four-year scholarships at Wichita State University.

The approximate value is between $150,000 and $200,000 -- unclear because the cost of fees and tuition continually changes, said Ron Kopita, WSU's vice president for student affairs.

Kopita said the scholarship guarantee means that, as each sister enters WSU, administrators will find scholarship money from various funds to pay for her education. The university has not received any donations targeted to this offer.

If one of the Nutsch sisters qualifies for academic scholarships based on high school or test performance, he said, that would become part of the mix.

"And that may be all we need to do," Kopita said. But if additional money is needed to provide a full ride, he said, the money would be found in other scholarship sources, including funds generated from tax dollars.

WSU's offer was revealed Sunday along with the new house that Kevin and Cathy Nutsch and their five daughters received from the TV show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

The Nutschs' original home blew up Aug. 6 because of a gas leak.

Kopita said that when producers of the show were interviewing the Nutsch family, one of Kevin and Cathy Nutsch's biggest concerns for their daughters was that each have a college education.

Representatives of the show called Kopita about two weeks ago. Within 24 hours, college officials had produced the plan for Karen, 16; Susan, 14; Jenny, 12; Katie, 10; and Jessie, 8.

"Frankly, we've kept it under wraps," Kopita said Monday. "ABC's field producer asked us not to discuss it."

Even though the chance of the family finding out about the plan was remote, he said, university officials kept mum.

Asked whether the college's pledge of scholarship dollars for the Nutsch girls might mean some other prospective, perhaps more deserving, students would go without, Kopita said, "'More deserving' is subjective. Who's to determine that?... It's like determining who's more beautiful."

Last Thursday, the show's film crew traveled to WSU. They filmed in art classes and at the university's welcome center, where designer Preston Sharp pretended to plead for the aid with Kopita.

Reality show or not, the scholarship is something WSU officials want to do for the Nutsch family, WSU president Donald Beggs said.

"We are working hard to reach out to individuals in the area," Beggs said. "We are part of the community."

And it doesn't hurt, Beggs said, that WSU's name may be mentioned on a national TV show.

"It shows the university is involved with our region," he said. "I consider that a compliment."

I have been reading "Brave New World of Health Care" by Richard Lamm, former governor of Colorado. He continually stresses the point that we do an extreme amount for a few while large numbers of people go wanting. I found the parallel between what he had to say and the whole extreme makeover thing striking.

Rather than building 5 $60,000 homes for people in need, this TV show built one $250,000 to $300,000 home for one family. But wait, did it cost the TV show much? Well, let's see. All the labor was volunteer. All the materials were donated as was all the food for the workers. Now the university is guaranteeing full scholarships to five people because they were featured on a TV show. In order to do this, they may have to deny more derserving applicants, but hey! They get their name on TV!

I also question the wisdom of telling a 14 year old, a 12 year old, a 10 year old, or an 8 year old that they get their way paid through college whether or not they get good grades, study or perform at a certain level. I am trying to assume the 16 year old is close enough to graduation that this "gift" won't do her any harm.

I am really hoping for a follow-up on the lives of these people and whether all of this "giving" has helped or hurt them. But most of all I am hoping to be kept abreast of where this scholarship money comes from and who is left out in the cold because of "celebrity".

I don't think I have made my comparison between Extreme Makeover and health care too clear. Richard Lamm gives this description of the Terri Schiavo incident. "Governor Jeb Bush of Florida gets international publicity for seeking and signing legislation overriding a husband's decision to terminate nutrition and hydration for his wife who had been in a Permanent Vegetative State (PVS) for thirteen years, yet Florida has close to 20 percent of its population without basic health insurance." A lot for a little and nothing for the masses.

To add to the frivolity, a lady brought a flyer by the office for designs you can have put on your skylights. They all have a cloud background, then you can add jets, pets, flags, balloons, etc. Makes me damn glad I don't have skylights.

Cranky

The last time I went to the doctor for my recurring ear infections, he gave me a prescription for a medicine to keep on hand for when I got another infection. So, of course, I have not had another one. That is fine; I prefer not having them to having them and having medicine on hand. I have, however, come down with a doozie of a cold.

Before I am aware that I am actually getting sick with something, whether it is a cold, an ear infection, or another malady such as UTI, I get irrationally cranky. My husband's comments to the contrary, I think I am a pretty even tempered person who would rather get along with people than not. But when I start getting sick things that would not normally even be on my radar screen become major irritants. People I like suddenly seem to be the most aggravating people I have ever known. And my patience, never an abundant commodity, becomes non-existent.

This was the case yesterday morning. I was sneezing and my nose was running, but I chalked it up to allergies. I was scheduled to have lunch with my friends across town at 12:15. By about 10:30 my throat was getting scratchy, I had sounded off in staff meeting, and I had a pretty good idea that my allergies were really a cold.

As I was trying to get away from work at noon, knowing that I would never make it to 13th & Meridian by 12:15, my phone rang. It was a document order and one that wanted actual cost. The phone had rung all through staff meeting and I could not hear on the lame cordless so always had to come to my desk. I had the cordless when this call came in but I sneezed hard and broke the connection! Then I had to figure the cost on the calculator as I had already shut down my computer.

I finally got away from the office, probably no more than 5 minutes late. Since there is no good way to get from Central and Edgemoor to 13th & Meridian, I decided to go across town on 13th. Bad idea. Of course there was a train, a long train. But the upside was that it didn't stop and block the tracks for 30 minutes.

I finally got to the restaurant about 12:30. Carol and Wilma, bless their hearts, were still waiting for me and we had a pleasant lunch. I warned them about my cold but they didn't seem to be too concerned.

When I got home about 3:00 I took some alergy medicine for the decongestant properties. It made me sleepy but my throat continued to irritate me. My big problem with medicine that makes me sleepy is that it doesn't actually allow me to sleep soundly. I finally got up at 1:00 a.m. and took two extra strength Tylenol as that is the only thing I have found that will get a sore throat under control for me. It did the trick but every time I started to go back to sleep I started snoring so loudly that I woke myself, and Harry, I think, up.

So today I feel a little better but am terribly tired. I had no choice but to come to work since I was the only one who was going to be here this morning. Who do you call in sick to when you are the only one scheduled to work? I will make it through; at least I only have to work until 1:00. Then I think I will make a medicine run and get some non drowsy cold medicine and maybe something to improve my disposition. (Like a 10 hour nap!)

I get so terribly irritated when someone says you "only have a cold". To me, a cold is one of the more miserable maladies, but we're supposed to function right through them and, in the process, spread germs everywhere. I think our Puritan work ethic will end up being the death of us all. But the, I'm CRANKY.