#374 New in Indy

We like all the new stuff in downtown Indy.

... the bike lane on Michigan near our old Lockerbie home,

... the new quip on the One America sign,

... the cool IUPUI campus center,

...the expanded toy store on Mass Ave (That's our friend Melody who likes kites and toys as much as we do. Erika & Mark, that's your wedding present in the brown bag.)

.. the new condos under construction across from Bazbeaux,

... and the impressive Lucas Oil Stadium - shown here with the rubble from the RCA dome still in front.

But, hands down, the best addition to downtown Indy is the new public library.

Look closely through the arches on the 5th level and you can see the Indy skyline.

Inside you'll find maps!

And the new GIS for Dummies book!

All these wonderful things have happened since we left Indy less than 2 years ago.

Yours in suspecting they've carried on without us,
Mary

#373 Indianapolis

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For lots of reasons, we want to go to there. Come see us on Saturday at the Rathskeller from 2:00 to 5:00.

Yours in planning a road trip,
Mary

#372 Carol and Spring

My dear friend Carol would have been 50 today.

Even though we lost her in 2000, I always remember her on the first day of spring - and every other day of the year.

I think about Carol

when I play the piano
when I listen to the music from the Phantom of the Opera
when I curl up under the music throw in front of the television
when I chat with Carol's mom
when I hear a good laugh

when I remember our first jobs at Phillips Petroleum Company and the annual Halloween parties

when I order a Coke with extra ice at Sonic

when I watch kites fly

when Spring comes

and when I think about the important things in my life.

Yours in remembering Carol,
Mary

#371 The Belmont Slop Bucket

The Belmont Slop Bucket - that's what Kelly had for dinner tonight. Dumped out here on a plate, the Bucket meal includes cheesy potatoes, pulled pork, cole slaw, baked beans, and barbecue sauce all in a bucket.

Kelly - Kansas City native and barbecue connoisseur that he is - gives the slop bucket 3 out of 4 stars and says he'll be going back to Belmont BBQ for more.

Yours in finding some good barbecue right in the bucket,
Mary

#370 I Want To Go To There

As fans of 30 Rock, Mary and I have been working Tina Fey's line "I want to go to there" into our conversations. Turns out she got the line from her daughter who exclaimed "I want to go to there" after seeing a Disney World ad. If we had our own TV show, we'd use these quotes uttered by our 2-year-old nephew Nate on our 1997 "Killer Road Trip"...

1. "I turned the page!" (said really loud after turning a page in the scary book There's A Monster At The End Of This Book.)

2. "No more monkeys jumpin' on the bed." (said really loud while jumping only on motel beds, never at home) This jumping action sends Mary into uncontrolled, doubled-over laughter.
3. "I want to crack you up Mary" (said really loud after Mary doubles over in laughter)
4. "Coyoteeeeeeeeee" (said really loud instead of "cheese" during photo sessions )

5. "Nate make a tree" (said really loud when Nate's feet are being buried in throwing rocks near water)

6. "Nate sandwich" (said really loud when Nate is between two pillows)

Yours in wanting to go to there again with Nate,
Kelly