GO CHIEFS!

I haven't posted much lately but I should have! 

We've been rocking Chiefs last two weekends…

I thought this photo of Boyd and Brady was a fun moment in time… 

Eulogy for Virginia

 

 

Last Friday was Virginia’s funeral. It was a sad day for sure, but also a pressure packed day for me and the kids! The kids found out that morning they would be doing a reading together. And I was to deliver the eulogy – what an honor. 

 

I thought I’d post the eulogy (not verbatim, obviously) here. And the kids did a wonderful job reading up in front of the entire church.

 

All in all, it went about as good as it could, I think. I know Adrianne and all of her family were very appreciative of me and the kids… here’s what I said about Virginia, AKA “Memow”…

 

 

 

Hi, what an honor, to be asked to say some words about Virginia today …

 

I’m Seth, Adrianne’s husband. Evey and Boyd, who did the last reading, are our kids. Great job, kids... Virginia was Adrianne’s grandma, and Virginia was the great-grandma to our kids. Over the last 20 years Virginia was my friend and eventually became my grandma, too. 

 

I’ll do my best to deliver this eulogy for Virginia … because if I mess up, I know I’ll hear about it from her when I see her again someday!

 

Virginia Leanos Romero was born May 21, 1926 in Rossville, Kansas. She was reunited with the love of her life, her hero, Ramon Sr., a World War II veteran, last Friday January 6. She was 96. She leaves behind a huge family as well as a massive community of people who were greatly influenced by her and Ramon. 

 

She married Ramon Sr. on May 16, 1946. The courtship went something like this: Ramon would drive by Virginia and her friend as they walked, and he would whistle at them (pshooo-pshooo!) Virginia was bilingual but she also spoke a third language, where she would say a word and you knew by the way she said the word … that it wasn’t a compliment. In this case Virginia would describe her friend as “petite” and then make this motion with her hands (curvy.) Finally, the petite (curvy) girl decided she’d walk over to the young man in the truck. When she got there he looked at her and said, “No, I wasn’t whistling at you. I was whistling at her.”

 

Virginia and Ramon were soon married and their romance was profound. All their lives they danced together, in the early years at a bar in Topeka called Meadow Acres. At their 60^th wedding anniversary at the train depot, Virginia was cleaning plates off a table. Ramon hobbled over on two bad knees. There was no music but he put his hands on her hips and… they danced.

 

I keep a Vicente Fernandez CD in my jukebox because Virginia likes it. OK, I like Vicente too. Whenever Virginia was over at our place I’d played her some Vicente. This last time I looked over and saw her wiping away tears. I thought, uh-oh, we’ve been sipping some tequila and I just took it too far, now I made her sad. I walked over to her and asked her if she was OK. She said she loved the music I was playing because it reminded her of her Ramon. They were tears of sadness but also tears of joy. Then she told me, “Seth, I want to have my next birthday party over here.” 

 

Virginia was very patriotic. She was active in the Democratic party and worked as a poll worker at New York School every presidential election starting with Dwight Eisenhower in 1956. OK, she missed one – for heart surgery. Think of how many people she knew, simply because she saw them every election day.

 

She was appointed to the Kansas State Cosmetology Board by Gov. Robert Docking Jr. The Lawrence Journal-World interviewed Virginia a few times in recent years. They asked her who favorite president was, she said John F. Kennedy, because he was just a friendly president, just trying to do good for his country…

 

Ramon Jr. describes Virginia as the cornerstone, the pillar of the family. Tony remembers how every time him, Jose, Ricardo and Fidel would get in trouble… Rick was with them but yet somehow, he’d be standing across the street when trouble went down with their mom. But then the next day when they went out the door, Virginia would always shout at Rick, “take Tony with you!” 

 

Mike told me when he was a kid, he’d also go out and find trouble. Whenever he thought he was getting away with it, he’d come home and Virginia would ask him, ‘what have you been into today?’ He’d say ‘nothing.’ But somehow, she knew. He didn’t realize how many people Virginia knew in the community, and they all were helping Virginia keep an eye on her kids… she had eyes everywhere.

 

…. there was no pepper that was too hot for Virginia!

 

Lawrence, Kan., 1990. Romero’s Liquor Store had the coldest beer in Lawrence. It also had the youngest cashiers in Lawrence and an old man co-owner who couldn’t see the numbers on an ID. The Skip-Bo games among the grandkids were epic. It’s where they all learned Yahtzee and how to play cards. I won’t name names but there was one grandkid who was potty trained at the liquor store, and a traumatic accident with the toilet seat set that kid behind a few months. The Young and the Restless was on everyday and they’d keep an eye on it, but when As the World Turns came on, everyone got quiet and watched. …This place sounds like my kind of liquor store. 

 

Lupe recalled a story about the last time Maggie the cat was allowed in the house. Virginia had purchased a tea set, and the centerpiece was this beautiful teapot. Maggie jumped up on the doily and that pulled the teapot off the hutch and it shattered on the ground. Virginia went after Maggie and she’s pretty sure the only thing that saved Maggie’s life was when Ramon opened the door at the last second. Maggie got away but she was never allowed in the house again. 

 

Yet Virginia fed and cared for this cat for years… legend has it the cat lived to be 25 years old or so. I guess at some point it developed a hunchback of some sort, but it never went hungry or thirsty. Just like the cats at the farm right now. We don’t know when she grew this soft spot for the cats, but she cared for all her animals…

 

I don’t know if Maggie made it through the pearly gates, but if she did, my guess is she still won’t make it through Virginia’s front door.

 

If your timing was just right, you’d walk into Virginia’s house when she was making tortillas. A fresh tortilla, when you can melt the butter on it? Or if you did some work and helped out with some mowing, or working at the farm, you’d get a knock on the door the next day. Virginia would hand you a tray of enchiladas. I was told that food was Virginia’s “currency of love.” And that currency is better than money, let me tell you. 

 

By show of hands, how many women here had their ears pierced by Virginia?

 

Judy talked to me about how she taught the women in her life to be strong. She had principals. She was courageous. And can I say it, she was TOUGH. Virginia didn’t take no mess. 

 

Rosalina Shoemaker told me that she still remembers her first day of kindergarten. Virginia looked at her and said, “Rosalina, someone is going to try to call your Rosie, or Rosa … your name is ROSALINA. And you don’t let anyone tell you what your name is.” John told me, to this day Rosalina gets mad when someone shortens her name, or calls her by a nickname … which made for an awkward moment when we looked over and saw that Lupe has her saved in her phone under a nickname… 

 

I asked Elvira if she could talk to me about her tia, and she told me, “Seth, if I’m going to talk about Tia, I’m going to need to sit down…”

 

1993, Los Angeles. Elvira is divorced with a 9-year-old and she has barely any money, barely making it. Her and Virginia were communicating via mail. Elvira told her, “Tia, I think I’d like to come see if I can make it in Kansas.” 

 

Virginia called her and told her, get out here to Kansas. You don’t need money. We’ll give you two years to get on your feet.

 

15 months later Elvira had enough money to move her and her daughter into their own place. I think about the life Elvira has made her in Lawrence, and her daycare … she took care of our kids when they were little, and think of the countless other children she’s helped raise. And Virginia, when she was able, would come out and help. She’d sit and bottle-feed a baby. When the baby was done, she’d ask, “Who’s next?”

 

That one act of kindness… think of the number of people it affected.  

 

As much as she cared for the women in her life, think of the way she loved her boys. This church is full of Mexicans, you know how Mexican women care for their boys. Oh, did she dote on her boys. Whenever we’d walk into the farm, she’d look right at Boyd and say, “Ohhh, que guapo!” Pierce was her ‘Macho Man.’ She flew all the way out to Pacifica, California, to hold Hunter when he was only six months old. 

 

She used to tell me I looked like my mom. I don’t think I look like my mom. I think this was her way of telling me that she remembered my mom, and she loved my mom…

 

Judy, Ramon Jr., Tony, Kyoko, Lupe, Rod, Mike… Adrianne, Andrew, Christina, Tony Jr., Cassandra, Rosalina, Brent, Jason, Jackie… Great-grandchildren, Evey and Boyd, Dexter, Sylvia and my sweet goddaughter Lydia Ixchel (I see you hiding Lydia!)… Vale, Brynn and Pierce, Hunter… foster brother Johnny Jimenez and foster sister Mary Jimenez Knowles, and the many nieces and nephews in Kansas and Washington … I am so sorry for your loss. 

 

Virginia is no longer here, but she will always be here (touch heart.) Kiddos, you had a great-grandma that you’ll remember, that’s awesome. I was driving with Boyd the other day and I asked him, ‘Do you believe in Heaven?’ and he said, ‘Yeah, Dad, I do.’ I told him, that’s awesome because I do too… and you will always have Memow looking down on you from Heaven.

 

Last night at The Rosary, Adrianne said her goodbye to Memow. She was distraught. I didn’t have the words. And then Rod put his hand on her shoulder and said, “Adrianne, whenever I get sad about Mom … I think about her being back with Pops, and I feel better.”

 

Do me a favor, after we go our separate ways today, I want you to put on some Vicente Fernandez. It’s easy these days, you don’t need a jukebox. You just need Spotify, or Amazon Music, or whatever. Put on some Vicente and close your eyes. I think you’ll see Virginia dancing with Ramon.

 

 

 

Peppermint mint mint mt milk SHAKE

Kids finally had one in Norman, Okla.

I don't think any of us actually liked it. The four of us couldn't finish the one we ordered!

But at least, now we know.

Peppermint mint mint mt!

Evey's 16th birthday song

Happy 16th birthday Evey!

Our sweet Evey Jones turned 16! We celebrated over a dinner at the Baldwin Mexican restaurant.

I tried to sneak away to arrange the birthday song but everyone saw right through me. I got a video of the song, I'll post it to YouTube soon. 

Evey is digging the Old 97s Christmas song in Guardians of the Galaxy Christmas Special so I picked up one of their CDs from Love Garden. And you know Evey loves Glass Animals…

Happy 16th birthday Evey!!! We love you!!! 

Bub's birthday song on his 11th

 

This is old but since Evey's birthday is Wednesday, better post this now! Bub's 11th b-day party at El Potro in De Soto.

The weekend that was Thanksgiving 2022

I had been working pretty hard since early October. Business travel coupled with some new opportunities (Equip Expo) and some magazine deadline really ransacked my day-to-day life. In fact, over the last few weeks, I took two business trips that were 5 days and 6 days long. That’s a rarity for me. I travel a lot for work, again now that we’re coming out of Covid (I think) but I’ve always tried to limit my travel to three days away, four at the max. And that usually works.

Not for Equip Expo (5 days) or the back-to-back Summits (six days.) It wore me out, and I came home from the back-to-back Summits gripping the steering wheel a little too tight.

So I took off Wednesday afternoon before Thanksgiving, even though I was on deadline (a magazine was due the following Tuesday afternoon, while I was double-booked with travel) and I needed the time off. Work schedule be damned.

I should mention that at this time, Adrianne was on the downhill with her first experience with Covid. So I hadn’t really seen her up close for over a week. She got sick while I was in Orlando, and when I got home, even though I hadn’t seen her for six days, we had to keep our distance. This was tough.

///

On Wednesday afternoon I took the kids to my sister’s house and we met Jess, Jett and Marina and Cousin Melissa for a pre-Thanksgiving Mexican feast. It was great! Jess made queso, pasole and enchiladas, I made refried beans. We all enjoyed the meal. Then Boyd suggested a game of Monopoly (Ghostbusters edition… OK, we brought it along). The game went a lot longer than normal (the risk of playing with folks who don’t play much) but Evey emerged victorious eventually. Boyd was on a three-day winning streak. We had been playing every evening at the house while Mom was in quarantine, a different Monopoly version each time (we own several.) Evey suggested that maybe this is a new Thanksgiving tradition? Maybe. But I did come in last place three of the four games (and second against Evey at Jess’ house.)

///

Thursday was Thanksgiving and I was pretty excited that a lot of the cooking fell to me this year. With Adro sick, and her cousins making plans months ago to spread out all over the earth during the holiday we have been hosting (I won’t take it personally… I think) that meant we had a small crew. Grandma Judy usually cooks the turkey and ham while I make a few sides, and my sister makes a few sides. 

With Adro sick, that meant Grandma Judy couldn’t come over. So call up Seth Jones and his kitchen sidekick, Evey Jones, culinary student extraordinaire.  

I watched a YouTube video the night before (in the guest bedroom, my new bedroom while Adro is sick) and came upstairs early with a game plan. Evey joined me around 10 a.m. and we first cleaned up the whole kitchen. I recorded the KU/Wisconsin game (KU won on a last-half-second tip in by Bobby Pettiford Jr., a game I watched about three hours after it concluded) and Evey and I put on some tunes and got to work. 

I made everyone breakfast burritos early to hold everyone off to 3 pm that afternoon. I got the turkey in the oven by 10:45 a.m., just a little later than I wanted. Evey got busy making the stuffing and green bean casserole. Bub came up and we all cleaned the house a little. With Adro down for the count, the Halloween decorations were still up, something we’d just have to deal with.

Jess and Melissa arrived right on time, much to my surprise. We were still in cleaning mode, but it was great to just stop and hang out. Melissa brought Polly Princess, here little toy dog, so we all watched as her dog and Mittens tried to kill each other through a window.

The weather was mild so we relocated to the HOJ. Irony, the kids and I cleaned the house but I didn’t bother cleaning up the HOJ… and it became the headquarters for Thanksgiving! We all made plates and headed outside and Adrianne joined us. We ate, listened to music and watched the sun go down. A super-memorable Thanksgiving.

And I NAILED the turkey. Super juicy. There was a moment of nervousness because the little thermometer red button thingy hadn’t popped out when I pulled the bird out… but the YouTube video I watched advised I get the turkey to around 165, 167 and then pull it out and let it rest for 20 minutes… it’ll keep cooking internally and make it to 170. (I did get a 170 reading actually so I felt OK pulling it out.)

My sister is always good about posting photos of the family on Facebook. She wanted a photo of me with the turkey, before I was about to carve it. I was still moving pretty fast, trying to make sure everything was ready.

When Sis snapped the photo, I’m smiling, looking into the camera. I’m holding a soup ladle in one hand. In the other, a knife, upside down.

///

Friday was pretty chill. Black Friday! 

I told myself I’d clock in, work a little (deadline, remember?) Instead I slept in, woke up and made (almost) everyone their own breakfast (ham, egg and cheese on an English muffin; egg over easy with a tortilla and bacon; Evey makes her own smoothie, I don’t make hipster breakfasts). 

Poured myself a beer by about noon and put on sports. Then I went next door and started CLEANING. 

By 2 p.m. or so the girls (Jess and Melissa) returned and we watched the US Men’s National Team play a weak sauce 1-1 game against England (a game they could have won.) That afternoon was a little long and made me grumpy. The weather was nice, though. 

I probably knew, deep down, I should have gone to work that morning.

/// 

Saturday was another fun day. The highlight was the entire family, including Grandma Judy, loading up and heading to AMC Studio 28 for a midday showing of Glass Onion. 

The movie was fun. Silly in spots. A good ensemble cast.

Afterwards we went to Wahlburgers, which I will state for the record, sucks. But Adrianne was finally Covid-free (as of Thanksgiving afternoon) so to celebrate I knew she wanted some mediocre cheeseburgers in a cold warehouse setting, along with overpriced milkshakes and slow service.  

C’mon, c’mon! Feel the vibration.

That night I went and met Neuty out for beers at Rick’s and we watched the KU/KSU football game. It might have literally been before Covid since we did that (drinking together at Rick’s, that is. Because I never stopped drinking at Rick's by myself.) 

///

Sunday came and I told Adrianne: best weekend ever.

Had a lot of fun, saw family, ate a bunch of great food, nice mild weather, played a ton of Monopoly, watched a bunch of sports. I told her, “I’m almost ready to go back to work!”

Sunday afternoon was Chiefs / Rams. The weather got colder, but I turned on the propane torch and we watched the game outdoors. The neighbors came over. Hot dogs off the Oscar Meyar roller. Chips and queso inside.

Eventually I packed a small bag for a quick business trip to Houston. Reluctantly went to bed. 

Exhausted, but finally rested.  

More Seattle photos

This was right when we arrived. Had a nice direct flight to Seattle.

The kids and I decided to give the Big Wheel a try. It was kind of cool.

We had a blast at the Mariners game and we went spur of the moment.

Bub and me taking in the view at the Mariners game.

 

Birthday bike ride

 

These photos are from Bub's actual birthday... but today (Sunday) we all went out for a nice bike ride.

Adro and I walked with the dog, while the kids biked the path. It was Craig's Crossing or something like that... off the Woodland exit of K-10. We biked it last year.

Nice afternoon. Beautiful weather here.

Happy birthday Bub!

***

Thursday or Friday, I was in the HOJ and Boyd parked his bike. He's wearing this long sleeve Batman T-shirt, new to me... maybe Kelly Jones art? Or Norm Breyfogle? 

I looked at him and said, "Dude. Awesome shirt."

He walked by me and said, "Awesome bike!"

***

I'm glad he likes the bike because I guess there was some discussion about him getting a working cell phone for his birthday. But he seems quite pleased, and thankful, for his birthday gifts, etc.

***

We had a sleepover party last night, for Bub's b-day. I survived! 

Attendees:

• Joey (previously Joseph)
• Tom (previously Thomas)
• Pancake (previously Nolan)
• Brady (still Brady)
• Aiden (though he didn't spend the night)

All is well.

***

Say... nice bike.

Watchdog day

For Boyd's birthday I'm here volunteering at his school. It's 1202 I've been in the lunchroom for an hour and it is CHAOS. 

And I'm starving. Boyd gets here in 13 minutes.

Pictured is art class. One of the more relaxing hours so far… 

Indiana days

 Here's a pic from my mom and dad's photo album, of Jess and me with Dad. I'm guessing 1980? The other photos in the batch were of the year we built a snowman on Easter day. 

All about Boyd (5th grade)

9 holes at Eagle Bend

 The kids and I had such a great time at Eagle Bend two weekends ago. I let Boyd drive my cart (where it was safe) and we all had highlights. Evey had a great tee shot over the ravine on No. 8. Boyd had a few nice chips. None of us made any putts though!

***

I took a mini-vacation to Minneapolis with my old friend Andre recently. We went and did a fantasy football draft then played 18 holes at Rush Creek the next morning.

Friends, my putter was HOT. I dropped one of 20+ feet and two or three more around the 10-15 foot range. I finally cooled off on the last six holes but by then the damage was done.

I would like to play like that again but with some co-workers next time!

***

Took the kids to see WWE Raw on Monday. We had so much fun! I took a few photos, they aren't great (like these golf pics) but I'll try to post them soon.

***

We celebrated Adro's birthday recently! I took her to Hollywood Casino for a bit of day-gambling, then What-a-Burger for a late lunch. There were some other gifts too like flowers, scratchers and an AMAZING painting. I'll share the painting (by Evey Jones) soon.

Drive-by trucker

So this was a first for me... as I was driving with Boyd, heading to his parent/teacher conference ... I saw a familiar car approaching me... it was my own daughter, driving by me, heading home! She waved, I waved. Crazy.

***

Photo is of the kids both doing homework (OK, Evey doing homework) on the back patio. The cat is hanging with them. Koko wanted to come join, but as soon as El Diablo Rojo (what Boyd calls the cat) saw Koko, she started scratching at the glass door to scare Koko away. Adrianne brought Koko to the front, so she could hang.

***

I grilled cheeseburgers on the flat-top after work today. They turned out great! Adrianne gave me a nice compliment at the end of dinner, about how good they were.

On the menu was cheeseburgers with grilled buns... and grilled onions and mushrooms (for me and Evey.) We decided to watch TV during dinner (we don't do that very often) and we put on the season finale of Rat in the Kitchen, this cooking show the kids (especially Evey) love. The last episode was actually pretty fun.

Will the show return for a season two? Chef Ludo puts out his hand and drops a thumb... down? (That's my guess.) The co-host said they would be back for season two.

***

Breakfast burritos for the kids before school today. Gonna try to fire out ham and egg and cheese croissants tomorrow morning. 

That's my A-game in week one of school. In two more weeks, it'll be cereal! I hope not, I like making the kids a decent breakfast before they go to school. And I can make a small egg meal in like 10 minutes.

 

 

First day of 5th grade and sophomore year!

 

 Evey is driving to school now, in her own car! She is driving Adrianne's old Tucson... just about the perfect wheels for her.

And yeah, she's still 15. Crazy!

We worry about the idea of her out there as a young driver, but she is also SO RESPONSIBLE. We trust her to pay attention and be careful. It's nice that it's all country roads from home to her school. But still, stressful.

Love you kids, have a great year!