Ralph's New Toy

Barkley has his Bat Mobile and now Ralph has his — a 2010 Lexus HS 250h Premium hybrid (gas/electric). He purchased it from a friend who is being transferred to Singapore. It has 3,000 miles on it. It is equipped with front and rear cameras. warning signals, a navigation system, voice controls for most functions, an assistance system similar to GM's "On Star' and other things Ralph is still discovering.

My Heart Belongs to ...

When we got back from a trek North to pick-up a new sink for Rick's bathroom we were greeted by this sweet sight.

I've got to tell you - it made my day!

Another Barkley Pose

Exercise Time

Two miles in the morning and two miles in the afternoon and he loves it.

Dispatch from Dallas

Things in Dallas have changed dramatically since the new year began. All of her hard work has finally paid off because as of two days ago, Ms. Catherine Grinter Krankota is mobile! Crawling and pulling herself up to stand wherever she goes, Catherine is no longer content to sit still and play. Mike and I will be spending the weekend tying back cords and covering outlets.

In other, and nearly as exciting news, I started work in the Dallas County Public Defender's office on Tuesday. this is a job that I have coveted for years, and I am having a truly fantastic time defending a large volume of clients without the hassle and uncertainty that comes with marketing, billing, and law office administration. I have a secretary, a team of investigators, and about 85 other attorneys working along side me. I am in absolute heaven, and I hope I stay in this job until retirement.

Rub A Dub Dub

Layla and I have discovered a new park-- this one is only about 2 minutes away from the apartment and much better lit than the big park. This one is actually a playground and Ben has been telling me to take her there for weeks but when I heard playground I imagined all pavement. So as a result, on the below zero days, poor miss Layla doesn't get her daily romp. However, this playground has a good sized patch of grass perfect for a quick ball throw so we have been having tons of fun. It was raining like crazy yesterday and when we went to the playground this morning (I have the day off for MLK day) it was super muddy. I didn't take a before picture but she looked like she had been tarred and feathered (hehe no pun intended. That's not true. I was trying to make a joke.)

So Layla got a bath when we got home. Now Layla is not opposed to baths (see the picture of her getting a bath with me this summer) but afterwards she gets chilly.

Typically, she gets a blow out post bath but since the heat was blasting in the apartment, she decided to cuddle up in my towel for awhile.

Not So Bad

Spending time in Pinehurst as the only one under 50 definitely has it's disadvantages. No one around after 10pm. Conversations that tend to revolve around dogs, diets, and golf. And, lack of 21st century technology (specifically large flat screen TV's with 100's of channels and impressive collections of interesting DVD's.) BUT, it also has it's advantages. Just ask Grace. She's a rock star! The center of attention wherever she goes, adoring fans begging to have their pictures taken with her, and invitations to every party. It's an enviable life, that's for sure.

Congratulations to Alison Grinter!

Dallas County's newest public defender starts work on Tuesday!

Shades of Sandy

Readers of the Gazette may recall that Sandy was known for grabbing and eating the kitchen counter wipes. Last Friday our 18" X 13" wipe disappeared. It was thick and red and hardly something that would be easy to hide. We searched high and low with no success and suspected that Barkley may have eaten it. It failed to make a reappearance for several days so Barkley made a trip to the Vet's. X-rays showed a bulge in his stomach which might have been the wipe. Late in the afternoon the Vet called to say they spotted some red material in his poop, so the odds were good that he had in fact eaten it. They decided to keep him overnight and feed him mineral oil in order to try to grease the skids. If that didn't work they would have to remove it surgically. This morning the Vet called to say Barkley had barfed the towel up. It was in one piece and the Vet couldn't believe he was able to get rid of it. Throughout the whole time Barkley was as happy as a clam.

Kansas Christmas

Justin and Anne enjoyed a quiet (and, as it turned out, very white) Christmas in Kansas City this year. On Saturday, they braved the snow to visit Justin's family and are now back at home bracing for the next round of winter weather.

Mark your calendars now, everyone: Kansas City will be hosting Christmas festivities in 2010 and all are invited! First on the agenda: buy a house that has more than one bathroom. Because I don't think Grandpa cares to share with so many girls :)

Christmas Lights

Barkley Update

As of 12/7/09 when he visited the vet's for a shot he was just over 70 pounds.

Barkley

Photos of Barkley taken today. He is about the size Bailey was when full grown — about 60 pounds and still growing.

Pooch Park Pictures

Pooch Park

Today Barkley joined the Pooch Park. It is on 3 1/2 acres divided into a small fenced section for small dogs and a large section for big dogs. Access is for members only through a gate with a combination lock. Membership is only $35 per year. Poop stations are scattered around with plastic bags and hand sanitizer. Since it was a Saturday, there were about 20 large dogs there who greeted Barkley enthusiastically. We have just returned and Barkley is conked out under my desk. My camera batteries died after taking the one picture on the right. Next time I will get pictures of the dogs, etc.

Dining in the Dark

Here is a picture of me and Justin at the annual "Dining in the Dark" benefit sponsored by Alphapointe Association for the Blind, a Kansas City-based not-for-profit and one of Justin's new clients.

Or at least, that's all that we were able to see. This fundraiser seeks to create awareness of the challenges that blind and visually-impaired people experience every day by serving a full dinner in complete darkness. It was quite an experience - imagine being surrounded on every side by the blackness you see to the right and trying to reach for a wine glass, butter your roll with a knife, cut food that you can't see and try to get it to your mouth - all while attempting to make conversation with people who you cannot see nor make eye contact with and who you can barely hear in a large, crowded ballroom. The entire ballroom had been COMPLETELY blacked out with dark curtains...no shadows, no hints of any light whatsoever. All the servers, who had the most difficult job of all, were either fully blind or had extremely limited vision - and none of them were trained waitstaff. In just 2 short days, they were all able to master the layout of the tables, the placement of all the food, drinks and carts, and did everything from clear our plates to pour our wine without a hitch. It makes you more aware of how much one can rely on their other senses (touching everything to get a feel for your surroundings, listening more carefully to what someone is actually saying...) to compensate for loss of vision. And it certainly gives you a greater appreciation for how well blind individuals can get along and adapt to everyday tasks that the rest of us take for granted. Despite this, unemployment among blind people in the United States is 70%...while the rest of us bemoan the 10% figure that came out the other day. Fortunately, adaptive technologies are only getting better - so today, a blind person can browse the internet, cook a gourmet meal, or pick a song on their iPod. Alphapointe makes these and other resources available to the blind community, in addition to providing financial support, training, and job placement assistance. A wonderful organization and definitely a memorable event.

It is October 29 and....

I still don't have a Halloween costume!! Any ideas?

And apparently, working from home does not protect you from the nasty germs that are creeping around town this time of year. I've been stuck with the flu (although not of the swine variety) for the past week. Bad news...it's turned me into a zombie (maybe I can go as myself for Halloween??)...Good news...it's enabled me to catch up on the last 3 episodes of Mad Men!


Justin, luckily, has been able to avoid both my germs and my Don Draper fanaticism. He is studying diligently for a final exam he will take on November 20-21 to get his CFP designation. Good luck!

Gosh, I just don't have enough jumping babies in my life!

This ought to fix that problem. Behold: Seven minutes of Jumping Catherine.

Hey, has anyone noticed that this blog has become nothing but pictures and videos of Catherine? I mean I love the kid, no question, but I know that there are other things going on in this family.

POST SOMETHING!!

Catherine Grinter Krankota says the Cowboys suck.

Catherine very much enjoyed watching the Denver Broncos beat the Dallas Cowboys. Also, she would like you to know that she is a Big Girl, and can sit up in her Big Girl Chair.

Catherine Videos

Here are some videos of Ms. Catherine Grinter Krankota showing off her newest skills!

Jumping!:

Playing!

Considering The Senior Tour

In the last three rounds Ralph has played he has scored in the 80's. On Friday 8/21 he shot an 87, on Wednesday 8/29 he shot an 89 and today, 8/28 he shot an 84!! For today's round he had one 6 and everything else was a 5 or less.

New Wheels

Ralph decided that Barkley needed a set of wheels to supplement his exercise program. They were delivered today and we just had our first trial run. Barkley is thrilled. He trots along on his leash and really seems to enjoy it. Right now he is exhausted.

Catherine Grinter Krankota update

things of interest
Originally uploaded by mikekrankota

Catherine is big, awesome and growing every day. Last doctors' visit (a couple of weeks ago) she weighed in at 10 lbs. 5 oz. and 22 1/4", so she's growing like a weed.

Latest developments: she's doing a really good job starting to place voices and faces together. She looks at you when you talk to her and gets excited when she hears my voice or Ali's voice. It's really neat.

We took her on her first road trip last week, a day trip to Austin for Mayhem In The Playpen (meeting our friend Andy's new baby Will). We're pleased to report that Catherine totally won. Photos are here for interested parties. She's a tough one.

More photos are all over. The rest of the latest are:

July 1

July 19

July 20

Chris and Amy Wed in Las Vegas

Wow! What a weekend. On Saturday, July 4, Chris Davis and Amy Ward got married in Las Vegas. Wendy and I attended and Wes served as Best Man. Saddly Ali and Mike were unable to attend -- they had other responsibilities -- but were able to send a toast for the wedding dinner. You can actually see the entire ceremony on the Internet. Go to http://gracevid.bannerview.com/weddings/ and enter the names of Bride and Groom where prompted, then sit back.

Kansas City Summer Update

I don't have any adorable baby pictures to post (I'll spare you all the doggie pics) but thought I'd share a couple from this summer so far. Gracie and her boyfriend Jamie have been living with us for the past several weeks (Gracie is once again interning at UMB Bank) and we've had a blast...it will be boring and quiet again once they're gone!









Justin with his catch of the Summer (Mahi Mahi in Mexico - Swine-flu free)













On our way to Kansas City Jazzoo fundraiser (Like Justin's interpretation of creative black tie?)












Symphony in the Flint Hills with Gracie and Jamie

Catherine at one month!!

Yesterday night, Catherine came to the discovery that the frog that hangs down in her play gym will play a song if you pull on it. So all last night she was pulling on the frog, and making it play the song. This may not be the most exciting news you've read all month, but Mike and I couldn't possibly be happier! She is using her limbs to accomplish her purposes! This is just the cherry on the top of a long list of early accomplishments (head supporting, turning herself over, sleeping four hours in a stretch) that lead us to believe that Catherine will be not only the most beautiful, but also the strongest, and smartest little girl the world has ever known!

Layla!

I could tell you about my breakdown when Layla didn't get off the conveyor belt at LGA, or how I got a post it on my door about a dog barking non-stop, or how I officially live in a warzone between a cat and a dog, or how I came home to find cat pee in Layla's food dish, but I think a picture is worth a thousand words in this case... So check them out!!!!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2490960&id=813810&l=093d92c624 

Everything from Layla's welcome in North Carolina, to her first days in Brooklyn, to her first bath!

Goldens, Goldens, Goldens

Mary, Ben and Jenna arrived at RDU on the same flight Saturday afternoon. Mary, Ben and Karen went directly to the breeder from whom R & J got Barkley and adopted an 18 month old female Golden whose parents had returned her when they were transferred to Hong Kong where she would have had to be quarantined for six months. After a few false starts they named her Layla. Despite the name, you can see from her picture that she is not black. Sunday evening Barkley took JoAnne and Ralph to the Finegold's for dinner and a chance to romp with his new buddies.

More baby photos? Don't mind if I do.

Looking out the window
Originally uploaded by mikekrankota

I've organized all the photos by day HERE.

She's doing really well. We tried out the pump and bottle-feeding today and that went great. So, Ali is not going to be on the hook for all the 3 am feedings anymore. Hooray!

Also - her social security card arrived today. AWESOME. Now I need to figure out where to store something for 16 years or so where I won't lose it. Yipes.

She Changes Every Day

She changes EVERY day - and yet remains perfect. Mike is updating the photos every day so that doting Great Grandparents and all lesser relatives can see her progress. You should check it out.