A Banner Night

by Dan Davis

Hi, everybody.  First post on Lisa's blog, so let me say that I'm honored.

Regarding "Lisa's Finest Hour:" Many of the details of that particular night in October, 1985 have been lost to time, but the legend remains.  And even though I'm not honestly sure that Lisa and I have ever discussed the events of that evening in our 22 years of marriage (up until this week), it still feels like yesterday.

The University of Denver hockey program was emerging from a long period of apathy and slumber, and 1985-86 was a good year that would eventually land the Pioneers in the NCAA championship tournament (not yet called the "Frozen Four").  Early that season a group of us, DU students all, headed south to Colorado Springs to the old, small, low-ceilinged, smelly Broadmoor World Arena for a game against arch-rival Colorado College.

In Lisa's rendering of the story, she and I went down in separate group buses.  The Lisa legend actually begins on the trip down from Denver.  She was in possession of the most precious gift in the life of a college student:  valid ID as a 21-year-old, so on the trip down, she takes up a collection from her fraternity friends -- of which I was not one -- somebody convinces the bus driver to stop at a liquor store and Lisa makes a beer run (or was it wine coolers?) for the assembled masses.

In my rendering of the story, the two of us arrive arm-in-arm in a romantic, horse-drawn carriage, but whatever.  I was still short of 21, so the part about the valid ID and the illicit beer run was probably true, regardless.

Lisa and I both agree that, independent of how we got to the game, we did end up sitting next to each other.  In my version, it was by design.  In her version, it was more likely an accident.

That year, my roommate Greg and I had taken to spending our disposable time (which was abundant) and income (which wasn't) on creating enormous banners for the old DU hockey "barn".  The two of us created a phenomenon, via our most famous banner, that came to be known as the "Bleacher Creatures".  And OK, we'll take ownership of the giant "CC S****" banner that revived (created? doubtful) the famous cheer, but we plead the 5th on the dead squid and the frozen chickens launched onto the ice from the balcony following Pioneer goals!

For the CC game, though, we outdid ourselves.  Or rather, the mother of Greg's bride-to-be, Karen, did, creating a large, professional-looking banner in the Pioneer crimson and gold.  Man, were we proud of that banner!!

As the game gets underway, DU scores a goal and we're cheering and waving the banner like crazy, when suddenly there's a rustling in the seats next to me.  The banner's been snatched by a group of hoodlum CC students who are half-way across the arena before any of us knew what hit us!

So, I turn to Greg and ask him what we're going to do.  He's perplexed.  I turn back to Lisa, and...

SHE'S GONE.

I look down toward the ice, and there she is, marching after the hoodlums with the determination of a mother about to tweak her son's ear and call him by all three names -- you know the look?

By this time, the hoodlums are back in their seats.  So Lisa walks into the "belly of the beast," right up to the offending fan, looks him straight in the eyes, and says, "My friend's mother worked hard on that banner.  I want it back!"

To which the shocked fan looks at his buddies, looks back at Lisa, shrugs, and says, "OK". 

And hands over the banner.

Of course, by this time, the 3,000+ fans have turned their attention away from the game to watch the drama unfold.  Lisa walks back across the arena, alone, victorious, banner in hand, to a standing ovation (probably even some CC fans among those cheering).  The hockey team, obviously inspired by her heroics, cruises to victory over the Tigers. 

Or maybe not.  None of us actually remembers who won the game.

As we file out of the arena and back to the horse-drawn carriage, I can only remember thinking the same thing that probably half of the young men who made the trip down were thinking:

THIS is the woman I'm going to marry! 

Seven months later, I did.

H/T: Old friends,Greg and Karen, who e-mailed us the above pic of THE Banner, of distant and happily-remembered fame.

All Hallow's Eve and All Saints' Day Shenanigans

The high speed capture of Busy Bee Domesticus in mid-flight.

This rare still photo shows him liting for a split second.  Note the blur of the limbs prepared for instantaneous departure.

(William, sick with the croup, and stranded at home with me and the other sickies on Sunday morning, due to the three foot drift still unmelted on our long driveway, did not attend a party in honor of either day.  The outfit you see here was donned in the course of every day events...)

And Here are the Big Kids' Costumes for their respective parties.

Kevvy and Alena:

Banshee and a Haradrin (a creature from LOTR)

(Such a handsome son I have...)

Paul , Nicole, and friend

(Paul went as a WWII soldier, Nicole as a friend of William's -- as above, and I think the friend's name is Jeff...)

Theresa, one of the few half-way well children we have just now went to the All Saints' Day party after Mass this morning, dressed as St. Thrasilla, stumped everyone, and won Best Presentation.  (Yay, Theresa!)  But, I didn't get to go and forgot to send my camera, doggone it.  While everyone else was at Mass this morning, the rest of the sickies and I watched Song of Bernadette, and the life of St. John Bosco in honor of the Feast of All Saints.

How did you spend your weekend?

Photo Charades

Wanna play?

Can you figure out what words or phrases each of these picture groups spell out?

(Hint: They're Fairytale Titles)

A.

1 word

4 syllables

B.

2 words

3 syllables

C.

4 words

6 syllables

D.

4 words

5 syllables

&

the

For a game of real charades, you can find phrase ideas here and here.

And here's a really cool online game of charades to go play.

Here are the answers for anyone who might be wondering:

A

B

C

D

Opinions Needed

There comes a time in every mom's life when she just has to surrender to the fact that her sons will strike out on their own.

=sigh=

It's inevitable.

And so it has happened with all four of my eldest children. My sweet little guys in their velcro sneakers and batman pajamas are growing up and looking for their own "styles." Which is not a bad thing, so long as they seek their independence in facial hair and not in tattooing their whole bodies, or piercing their tongues, or becoming Marxist.

In point of fact, you can see from the first picture below that our son, Kevin (19), has somewhat mastered the technique of growing facial hair. See that fluff? But he's not sure he's satisfied with just a puff of fluff and gave me permission to ask for opinions on a few other looks he's considering. Works for me! Maybe we can effect a positive change here!

What do you think? Which lip-and-chin-do is best?



As he is:

Option #1
Option #2
Option #3
Option #4
Option #5

*Photoshopping courtesy of son, Dominic (15), who says it was totally his pleasure.

Now make sure and run over to Shannon's for lots of fun tips, ideas, and inspirations.

How to Catch a Prairie Faerie

Being native to greener shores, faeries are a rare find on the prairies, but some do live here. We think they must have crossed the ocean with Irish families and then found their way to the prairies hiding in covered wagons. We've often seen faeries masquerading as dragon flies on hazy summer days here at our own homestead on the high prairies of Colorado.

But when Theresa told me she thought she'd seen something bright darting around the back of the house today, I was skeptical. It's a very windy, quite chilly day here. The tulips are just barely above ground and the buds on the trees are only now beginning to swell. It's not the time of year yet for butterflies or dragonflies ~ not to mention faeries!

Nevertheless, Theresa was sure. And she was sure it was faeries, not butterflies. So, she grabbed a jar with a hole-punctured lid, and set out, determined to capture one. I followed with the camera ~ just in case.

She thought she'd try near the cedars first, as that seemed like a good place for faeries to hide.
She found nothing in the little hole at the bottom of this tree, though it seemed a likely place...
Having no luck in the cedars, Theresa thought it might be a good idea to check out the old tree house.
Nothing stirred there, though, but some birds working on a nest, so she wandered out into the tall grass near the front ten pasture...
And, hey! What's this hiding here in this green tuft of grass?The sweetest little faerie!

At first Theresa tried to catch her in the jar, but it just didn't seem to be the right thing to do. The wee faerie was hunkered down in the grass, shivering, and looked up at Theresa with a very pleasant sort of expression. Of course she didn't want to climb into the jar, but she agreed to have a little chat with Theresa, as long as she put down the jar, and as long as Theresa didn't ask her name. (A faerie only tells you her name when she trusts you and is ready to be your friend, you see.)

Theresa agreed to those terms and asked why the little faerie was outside on such a chilly, windy day. Apparently it's because she and her sister just couldn't wait for a nicer day to go out in the sunshine in their new Easter dresses (Yes, faeries do celebrate Easter; they're Catholic, of course, having originated in Ireland!). But she did admit that it was very cold outside and difficult to fly in such wind. She was grateful for Theresa's warm hand.

As Theresa and the faerie were talking, another, smaller faerie flew up and joined them. (Here she is, below, the little sister.) The little sister is a bit of an ornery little faerie, and picked a fight with Theresa right off the bat. First of all, she made her big sister sit on the ground, while she hogged up Theresa's warm palm. Then she wanted to know why we didn't have an Easter egg hunt outside this year, and wouldn't accept the reasoning that it had snowed the night before Easter. It seems the faeries make out quite well on Easter egg hunts, and she was quite put out not to have a share in this year's booty.

"You could have hidden candy and eggs in the snow!" she said, "You could have worn coats!"

She became quite abusive, accusing us of being selfish and lazy. Theresa tried to explain to the little sister faerie that it was none of her doing, but the little thing just wouldn't listen.

Theresa started to get irritated (and she doesn't irritate easily), and warned the little faerie to be nice, or she'd put her in the jar. This made the little thing really angry. As you can see by the picture below, you don't want to make a little faerie angry. It casts a gloom.

But, Theresa's had enough experience dealing with little brothers and sisters that she wasn't about to take abuse from such a tiny fluttering girl. She told her, "Faeries are supposed to be charming and gentle and pretty, but you're just a greedy little brat!"

That's when the little faerie bit Theresa's thumb.

And, just as Theresa scooped up the little stinker into the jar, her big sister flew in, too.

So here they are, on the top of the computer desk. They're not very happy about being there. But we are feeding them pieces of jelly beans and peeps, which cheers them up considerably.

We're trying to decide if we should let them go right away, or make a little house for them in our old birdcage.

For April Fools' Day

Some Optical Illusions to Fool the Eye:

Some Norman Rockwell Silliness ~

See What You Can Spy:

Some Topsy Turvies with which to Play:

Fun to look at, but more fun to try to make. There is no upside down on these; there's a different face either way you look at them. We'll spend some time today trying to draw our own.

Some Palindromes to Say Both Ways:

(Gotta love Weird Al...)

Sort of verbal Topsy Turveys, palindromes! Ones we found with our names in them:

Gabes on a nosebag.

O, Lisa sees a silo.

Anna: "Did Otto peep?" Otto: "Did Anna?"

Poor Dan is in a droop.

Yo, banana boy!

Our Topsy Turveys

Anna's (5) Isn't this amazingly good for a 5 year old?

Mine (?) Getting a kick out of how my initial and the word
"Mom" are topsy turveys, too...

Cathy's (7) Her sad gal is so funny to us.
(You've got to look closely to see her eyes)

Theresa's (9) Both her guys are happy!

This is a really fun art project! Or just an interesting
doodle while you talk on the phone...