Rox said:

 

4. So you have a $60,000 car. We're impressed. We have $250,000 combines that are driven only 3 weeks a year.

ROFLMAO Oh, how I wish I'd had that on a bumper sticker back in the day!

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Waving at the passing pickup is something my good wife (NOT a native Kansan) didn't/still doesn't understand. I recall the first time we were visiting some of my relatives "out in the country" (I've so many that we kinda had to do it a bit at a time), some guy was driving down the gravel road, we waved at each other, my dear spouse said something to the effect of was that someone you know?, and I said, maybe, not sure, doesn't matter. She puzzled on that until we left, and, meeting the same guy, both waved, etc., etc., and determined I was in danger of civil commitment.

She was also somewhat puzzled by the three main dishes on the table at the family gathering, looking for I don't know what. When she determined that vegetables consisted (in my family) of potatoes, corn and green beans, she began to doubt the wisdom of the marriage. Now with sisters-in-law, the family gatherings include other veggies, and she is much happier. But the "outlaws" still insist on 'taters, corn and green beans. The other stuff is fine, we just won't eat them. And, by gum, if one wants to have a riot at our gatherings, don't bring the bread! Summary executions have been known to occur for less. (It's no coincidence that the family pictures of the four of us boys in the album are often accompanied by the caption "Baby Beef Patrol").

 

Rox said:

 

Because my hubby was on TDY at the time and out of state, I was chosen to go to the auction of a retiring neighbor and buy his combine.

I'd been to auctions before. Bought a nice, solid oak and very old captain's chair for $15, one time, bidding against antique dealers. I still have it. It's here in my office with me. But I'd never bought a combine. I was very nervous, which is the understatement of the last century.

I was given a maximum I could bid. The bank had okayed the loan, so I was good to go...to a limit. One of the other neighbors was also bidding on the combine, only he was doing it to drive up the price, not to buy it, and he didn't recognize me. With each bid, my stomach churned a little more. By the time someone told the other bidder who I was, the price was $300 over the max I'd been allowed, but, by gosh and by damn, I got that combine. I didn't however, get the other reel we needed to go with it. Shoot, I'd forgotten about that extra reel.

When the bidding was over, I promptly found some bushes, where I dealt with my churning stomach. When the hubby got home, I told him that if he EVER sent me to bid on anything again, I would divorce him.

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

# 13. College and high school basketball is important here and fun to watch.

With all deference to the above, Kansas can't hold a candle to Indiana when it comes to high school basketball, at least that's how it was when I was there in the USAF. "Opener" is a religious holiday, but in Indiana, refers to the first day of the state high school basketball tournament in early March, which used to be televised state-wide. I suspect that as Indiana has now gone to classes, it's not what it used to be. I'd never seen better than 5000+ at a high school basketball game before I observed this phenomenon on the TV, broadcast from Hinkel Fieldhouse at Butler University. SRO for the entire tournament! Major undeclared holiday (not a lot got done in Indiana when the tournament was on).

 

Rox said:

 

Ah, yes, Hoosiers! Good movie, but I always thought Gene Hackman was a bit old for Barbara Hershey. LOL

Basketball and football are staples of rural towns in Kansas and in most ag states. If you want to see fanatics, go to Conway Springs during football season. Pretty much the entire town is at the games. Now, I like football, but it gets to the point of insanity in some places. God help them if the team doesn't win.

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Rox, as an alum of Wellington HS, there is NOTHING more important to the general welfare of that community than the record of the high school football team. When I went to my 35 year class reunion, the "lead off" event was the homecoming game. Things were not going as expected (WHS had only a 24 point lead at half), and much grumbling, etc. was overheard among the locals. At the post-game gathering, we non-locals were treated to the great whining about not enough students "going out for the team, there are no cuts anymore, no wonder the team is so bad" from those whose entire lives are centered around the glory days when THEY were on the team. While I do not think competitive interscholastic athletics has any place in a high school setting, I know that the games are the one weekly time when all can gather as a community united for a common goal. Thus, the European system of the company sponsored "town team" will never replace our system of high school teams.

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

(Forgot to add) If anything, "Hoosiers" understated the role of high school basketball in Indiana.

 

Rox said:

 

A Wellington alum, huh? I was wondering. My mom attending grade school a couple of years in Wellington.

I never missed a football game in high school. We were excited to win a game, because it didn't happen often. >g< When #2 daughter was in high school, we actually won homecoming! First time in heaven knows how many years. LOL We did have a good basketball team, and it really good a couple of years after I graduated.

Sports in high schools are good, but it turns sour when it becomes all consuming. In small schools around here, very, very few go on to even play college ball (any kind), and pro is pretty much unheard of. Although I do know a guy who almost played for the Oilers, but he was in the last cut made. (He was part of the WSU team when the plane crashed. For some reason he doesn't know, he got on the one that didn't.) Anyway, it would be nice if schools put as much emphasis on other extra-curricular things--art, drama, speech, debate, math competition, etc.--than only sports. That's my biggest beef.

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Thus, Rox, my continuing allegiance to Northeast Magnet. It has no athletic programs due to a complicated set of circumstances surrounding its initial formation. Students who attend there may play, under a specific KSHSAA rule, for their "base school" (the school which would have been attended had the student not enrolled at Northeast). This, then, presents the opportunities for the students there to become involved in the extracurricular activities which I argue are more directly related to education, such as the Scholastic Art Competition; the Robotics competition; Science Olympiad; debate; the math competitions (at least in the past); Scholar's Bowl; and similar activities. The most competitive outlet is the chess team. The one thing it lacks is instrumental music, but my argument there is very simple; if instrumental music is that important, then by all means, choose to attend another school where one can be involved in that. A magnet school is just that; a magnet, and should not and cannot be expected to offer all opportunities that the "comprehensive" high schools offer.

You have hit upon the reason I was a basketball player rather than a debater. Debaters had little opportunity for "dates"; jocks, the opposite. Coldly stated, I know, but "facts is facts" in my case. Big mistake to play basketball as I look back, but I made the choice, as the emphasis was most definitely on athletics school-wide, rather than the other possible activities. One thing participation in athletics taught me; there's a whole lot of dysfunctional adults around, and that's only referring to the coaches!

 

Rox said:

 

Oh, man, do I agree with that last sentence! Bill Cosby said once that adults ruin kids' sports. I've seen it first hand when my kids played softball in the summer. I've seen it in high school, when a couple of parents in the stands inevitably had technicals called on them. As for some coaches... You said it!

I need to check into the magnet schools. It could be my youngest is even too old for that though. Long, boring story, but she has GAD (General Anxiety Disorder) and has never dealt well with school. Moving from a small town school to a big city one didn't help.

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Going back to the family gatherings and the three main dishes, at least some of the potatoes must be mashed; no excuses. My dear wife has converted a part of the "all mashed, all the time" potato demanders to her "Cheesy Potato" recipe, so simple even I can do it. Take cubed, frozen hash browns, add the requisite proportions of cream of chicken soup, Cheez Whiz, sour cream, stick in the oven and bake 'til done. Serve in pan used for baking (a large disposable foil one works very well), and there it is.

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

I feel I must add that at our typical family gathering, there may be as many as 30 to 35 bodies present, given the immediate family and assorted hangers on, add a few cousins, etc. Thus, the comment about large foil pan (the disposable roaster size works well).

 

lindainks55 said:

 

"And, by gum, if one wants to have a riot at our gatherings, don't bring the bread!"

Wayne has been known to have another helping of a really good bread and leave the pies, cakes and cookies sitting untouched. At least until he is hungry again.

OK, to that heart endangering cheesy potato recipe crush Ritz (or another butter laden) cracker, add to the top and drizzle melted butter over that before baking. Your arteries begin clogging more quickly if you go all the way.

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Yeah, I know, Linda, but for some reason, that version isn't as popular with the "inlaws and outlaws", so she skips it and presents the "health food" option. (Her recipe calls for a topping similar to that which you propose, as I recall)

 

lindainks55 said:

 

lol

the health food option

lol

 

Vaughn Tolle said:

 

Linda, wanted to let you know my wife was also amused by my description of the potatoes as prepared by her as the "health food option".