Afternoon Lake Party and Woofs With My New Friends
This afternoon my friends Alex and 'Kique (Spanish nickname for Enrique), and Alfredo invited me to a party at a friend's home by the lake. This was my first exposure to deaf culture. 'Kique is deaf and he began as our guide but since everyone was so friendly, it was really easy to get to know the great people at the party.The Fantastic Four:
Omar, 'Kique, Alex, and Alfredo
Hanging by Alex & ‘Kique’s pool
After a Piña Colada upstairs, we ventured to the pool to enjoy the sun.
Omar, Alex, 'Kique (Spanish nickname for Enrique), and Sam.
Enjoying Kansas City
Liberty Memorial Museum, America's National WWI Museum
Omar and the carvings.
Close up.
The tower.
The view of Kansas City from the Memorial.
General John J. Pershing.
Union Station.
Inside Union Station.
Omar inside Union Station.
Now for lunch and shopping we visited The Plaza district.
Having celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1997,
The Plaza is the oldest shopping center in the country and attracts 10 million tourists each year.
Along with some of the country's chic-est fashions and major labels,
shoppers will find true Kansas City originals.
Modeled after Seville, Spain, one of Kansas City's sister cities, the area features magnificent Spanish tile, piazzas, and terra cotta rooftops. The Plaza also did more than its share to earn Kansas City the title "City of Fountains." Perched on nearly every corner, each fountain is steeped in history and has its own story to tell.
After shopping, a group of us went to see Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
Later that night, I noticed there was fire emanating from a large bowl atop the memorial.
Time for Dinner.
Rosedale's - where we didn't eat.
And Jack Stack - where we did enjoy a great meal albeit quite late in the evening.
They say you're supposed to grab the bull by the horns, but I couldn't reach them, so I got a hold of what I could reach.
Jim and Maria’s Rehearsal Dinner
After arriving in Kansas City, getting to the hotel, attending the rehearsal at the church, we made it to Salvatore's Italian restaurant.
And let's just get one thing squared away right now. Smiley and Jim are one and the same. For going on 15 years that's what I've called him, so it's hard to all of a sudden call him Jim now. When his mom would call our apartment in college and ask for Jim, I'd say she had the wrong number and hang up on her. Of course, I would never do that now, but I digress so here we go:
Randy’s Graduation Party
Tonight I helped celebrate our friend Randy's graduation from Law School.
The cake has a boa!!!
Randy's Graduation Dance
Guys "protecting" the keg of beer in the backyard.
Post Graduation Day
Thankfully, I was able to get almost 8 hours of sleep and woke up to lots of family in the house, coffee, food and
conversation. Although everyone was returning home today, we managed to enjoy some food, of course, and fun before the day was out.
My brother Edel, finally appeared after a deep sea fishing trip with friends - I think it's amusing that
HE"S the one with the rainbow shirt.
The fish he caught - and we later ate.
With my godparents
My cousin Troy's hobby is flying model airplanes and helicopters.
In a field behind our house he gave us a demonstration.
Troy's helicopter
However, back at the house, the food was being prepared, OK, fried.
Getting the fish ready
My dad on the grill
Hector and Joyce
Edel and his fishing buddy
Eric and Trudi eating
Hector’s Graduation Day
Today my youngest brother Hector graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
We had to get up VERY early in the morning to be able to get to the graduation ceremonies in Daytona Beach, FL.
Graduations are always a very big deal in my family. Since there were more important things to do in Cuba at the time - like survive - I'm a part of the first generation in my family to go to college.
The fruit of our parents' sacrifices become tangible in graduations that can be celebrated.
Much to our dismay, however, Hector's graduation was held under the relentless Florida sun that baked us all during what would later become the first of the two graduation ceremonies.
