In Memory

K - Theodore W. July 9, 2009, beloved husband 

of Evelyn (nee P); dear father of Marsha (David) L, 

Elizabeth (Michael) S, Anthony (Sandra) K, 

Barbara (Michael) K and Mary (Craig) K; 

grandfather of 14 grand and two great-grandchildren; 

son of the late Frank and Sophia; brother of 

Walter and the late Peter (late Bernice) 

and Florence (late Edward) W; also survived by nieces 

and nephews. Funeral from the JOS. FUNERAL HOME, 

Saturday 11:15 and Queen of Angels Church 11:30. 

Visitation Friday 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Theodore was a WW II 

veteran, recipient of the Purple Heart and Silver Star, 

member of the Matthew Glab Post #1477, a St. Joseph's 

Workers, and former Trustee of St. Michael's 

Church and Holy Name.

I've been wanting to post about this for a while, but I just couldn't figure out how to get into it. All I keep thinking is how selfish I am, because I want more time with him. He would have been 90 in September. And I got to spend the last 24 years with him. 24 years with a man who thought he'd never live to see 50. "Don't get old," he would say. "I used to say, 'I'll never make it to 50. Then 60. Then 70. And look at me, almost 90 years old!'"

He loved a lot of things, but one of his last conversations with the doctors was about us, how every Sunday we all come over to their house for dinner, even the grandkids, all 14, and we all get along. And we do. We don't have a ton of stuff in common, but we have a good time when we are together. 

This is my grandparents on their 50th Anniversary with all the grandkids 

(minus my cousin Matt who had a little too much fun the night before when 

we all went out together). There are a couple of spouses missing, but we all had a great time!

I'll miss all the old stories he would tell about work and the war and the Health Department. He wasn't always a big talker, but once he got going, he was on a roll. He recently started a conversation with my little sister about confession and sins and somehow ended up telling her about the loose women at the taverns with the low cut shirts and short skirts who would disappear with men out to their cars!

But I was so glad to hear about all the wonderful things he did with his time here. Hearing about him from others who knew him way back when was almost magical. As I've gotten older, he had become a lot more dependent - he had arthritis that slowed him down and made him less steady on his feet, and lost his sight to macular degeneration. But back in his prime, he was very active in his community, even receiving an award from the Diocese of Buffalo for all the service his did for his church. 

May the Lord bless and keep you, and may you be happy with the Lord. 

I love you, Grandpa!

My grandparents and their 5 children

(L-R: Elizabeth, Barbara, Anthony, Marsha and Mary)

Pictured L-R: (back row) Mike, Barb, Dave, Marsha, Ryan, Mike, Liz, 

Mike, Tim, Andy, Meagan, Joe, Janelle, Nick, Mark, Sandy, Craig, Tony

(middle row) Amanda, Evelyn, Paul, Theodore, Cole, Mary

(bottom row) Leslie, Emily

Fourth of July weekend, oh my!

Well, all in all it has been a pretty packed weekend! I am almost glad its Monday, I get a breather from all the hustle and bustle of the weekend... it helps that I have the day off today.

Every year, Kevin and his friends go to an outdoor country concert weekend called Jam in the Valley. Thursday is guys night, so Kevin headed down to set up camp and hang out with his friends. Although its not so much "camping" as it is a bunch of northern rednecks setting up tents in a giant muddy field and spending the weekend getting hammered drunk, setting off fireworks, and generally being rowdy. For example, while we were walking to our site on Friday, people were playing redneck games. They were throwing a tire. To see who could throw it the farthest. I would not lie to you about this. The girl who was up as we were walking by didn't even set down her beer. Beer in one hand, tire in the other. God's honest truth.

So Friday before I left to go join the fun, I was a baking machine. I made some chocolate chip cookie bars (with M&Ms, yummers!), brownies and also s'mores bars. Delish! I left my car at Kevin's friends' house because it was supposed to rain and Kevin has gotten his car stuck there before, so I knew my car would not make it out alive. We loaded everything into his dad's truck and took off. 

When we arrived, we grabbed a spot in overnight parking, loaded up with all the crap that I insist on bringing anytime we go places and walked over to the campsite. On the way, we passed people throwing tires in an apparent "redneck game" aka Exhibit A of "Why I don't belong here."

At the campsite, we split up, girls near the camper while the guys visited old buddies from high school. It was sort of annoying because Kevin's ex-girlfriend Jenna was there. Then somehow we got on the subject of chest hair and Nair and Jenna said she had done that to Kevin before and did I ever? To which I replied, "No, because you Naired his nipples and hurt him." To which she replied, "Oh yea, I still have pictures of that." SMOKE was pouring out of my ears. Why do you still have pictures of him?! So mad! 

Anyhow, she wasn't staying for the concert so she left, and we went in. It started raining so I had all my belongings in ziploc bags. The Friday night concert was Big and Rich and Gretchen Wilson. Well, I don't really care for Gretchen but B&R was AMAZING! It started pouring as they played "Holy Water" and it was magical! 

Of course, our blankets in our little tent also got wet, so sleeping that night was not so awesome, and we were up by 5:15am. No worries, we went to my fave diner for a little food!

See, Derek's excited! Are you?

Sara got the frisbee!

All the wives

Me and Kevin (adorable!)

Kevin, on the grill

After a nap at Kevin's parents, I had every intention of driving back to Rochester and resting until I had to work 8-12am at Wegmans (on 4th of July, thanks a lot). But right as I was about to leave, my grandma called and invited me down. I originally said no, but changed my mind, called her back and headed home. We had a lovely picnic with hot dogs, barbeque hamburgers, salads, fruit and blackberry pie! 

I had an uneventful ride back to Rochester and the night at work was not as bad as I had anticipated. Also, I got to duck outside for a while and watch the fireworks - there is a park right across the street and they put on an excellent show. All in all, it was a lovely weekend. 

Enjoy it!!