Mike's Playground

July 2006

On July 20th, I had surgery to remove a lump on my neck. Initially the surgeon told me he suspected lymphoma. Even after the surgery, he suggested the chances of lymphoma were 75%. After two agonizing weeks of waiting, we found out it was a reactive lymph gland. It was benign and not lymphoma. We started to breathe again. This was confirmed locally and at the Mayo Clinic. These pictures are before the surgery, and then within one week of the surgery.

Charlotte shot this one a year ago in downtown KC. I did the photoshop changes, and picked the colors. I thought the waiting was appropriate as a metaphor for things now.

This is probably my favorite picture. I shot it in the midst of my first photography class. CJ and I were at Hells Bend, north of La Cygne on a spectacular fall day. We were wandering some of my favorite childhood haunts and just happened on this spot. We just had a great day!

This is a portrait of my sister, changed from a photograph to a painting.

Our tiling project from May. These are 18 inch tiles. Fortunately the floor was concrete already. Our friend John Baldwin helped us get the job done. Here CJ is figuring out exactly the pattern she would like for the tile.

Of course, these projects don't complete themselves. CJ just loved playing with the tile cutter. John is mixing up some cement for the tiles.

The final product. It turned out great.

Did I mention we replaced the tile in the kitchen as a warm up for the floor tile job. This proved more work than we anticipated whe we had trouble removing the old tile. We ended up using a sledgehammer, and having to put up sheet rock before we could tile. It turned out fine, though.

Here is a close-up of the kitchen tile detail work. Again, CJ picked the pattern and the accent tile. My primary contribution was demolition.

Henry sunning himself after an exhausting round of shake-n-growl.

Henry enjoys a dip in the pool before dinner! Of course, I missed the belly flop he used getting into the pool.

This shot really needs no explanation.

This is a picture of Queen Charlotte, for whom Charlotte, NC was named. The statue is located just outside the airport. I shot this while waiting to load up Henry and come home.

This picture was taken a few years ago at my 30th class reunion. I found it going through some old files. It isn't the best picture, but it is all I have. I suspect I will not be hard to find in this one. We were the first graduating class from Prairie View High, a school composed of kids from La Cygne, Parker, and Fontana, Kansas. Even with three towns, it was a small class.

This somewhat startling shot was taken by Charlotte at Kensall Greens cemetery near London during a visit several years ago. While the subject is alarming to some extent, the image is one that stays with you...

This is Leeds Castle in Kent, England. It was a former hunting lodge transformed by Henry VIII as a royal castle. It was one of our favorite spots in England.

Remembering San Francisco on a hot Kansas City day....

Family Reunion Photos

These shots are of family and friend attending our family reunion last May in La Cygne. Please feel free to send me others you would like to have posted. These were all taken by Mary Lou.