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Visit with Cecil & Sue Ramsey, Kansas City

зъбни импланти[After a long dormant period, I'm going to try to get back to actively posting in this blog.]

We had a very nice trip to Kansas City, July 19-21, 2012, to visit my aunt and uncle, Cecil and Sue Ramsey, and their family.

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Cecil’s health is a bit fragile at age 87, and Sue, 85, is doing an amazing job of keeping the family and household afloat. We were able to spend major parts of three days with them. We very much enjoy our visits, and it was good to see them, their children, David, Doug (not shown) and Darby, and Darby’s daughter, Jocelyn.

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Posted 11 years, 8 months ago at 5:09 am.

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Melba King Celebrates 100th Birthday!

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[This is a brief article I submitted to the Ada Evening News, the local paper in my aunt Melba's home town. I also included the two "bookend" photos below, which I think illustrate in an interesting way how long she's been a part of our family. And I was interested to see how much our granddaughter, Siggy, resembles her great-grandmother at that age.]

Some 150 friends and relatives helped Melba King celebrate her 100th birthday at the Ada Arts and Heritage Center on December 21. Participants came from around Southeast Oklahoma and from several states to honor Melba’s accomplishments and celebrate her friendship. Caterer Tamara Jones provided a fine array of food, and Melba’s nephew and party host, Rudy Ramsey, was truly grateful that all these people managed to keep the surprise party a secret from Melba.Smiley

Melba is a full-fledged native of the Ada area. Her parents, Zebulon and Addie Brown McKoy, moved from Texas to Stonewall when it was still Indian Territory, and Melba Brown McKoy was born there on December 24, 1908. She moved with her family to Ada in 1922.

Melba at age 14, with her sister, Zebbieoptical amplifierbackgammon free casino money free craps game play free black jack craps video poker strategy play black jack online how to win video poker casino game online uk best casino online casino secure online gambling jackpot casino online casino black jack learn to play craps how to win at video poker craps online blackjack casino game online casino betting free on line video poker casino games no download casino online gambling casino play free casino slots video poker machine bonus video poker free on line slots double bonus video poker free video poker games free casinos roulette online craps rules free on line casino rules of craps online casino free money blackjack 21 internet casino how to play craps free casino game download fortunelounge online casino free casino download free casino card game free roulette game free casino play no deposit free money casino internet casino online online casinoмебели бургаÑмебели

Melba at age 14, with her sister, Zebbie

She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from East Central State Teacher’s College (now ECU) in 1929. She was a member of Pi Kappa Sigma sorority. She also attended the University of Colorado and the University of Oklahoma.

Melba married Churchill W. Thomas, of Ada, in 1926 and they celebrated their golden anniversary before Churchill’s death in 1977. They lived in Ada all through their marriage except for two years in the late 1930’s spent at the University of Colorado, and a few adventures in uranium prospecting in Utah in the late 1950s.

Melba also had a happy, though all too brief, second marriage to Lester W. King, of Ada. They were married in February, 1979, and he died in November, 1980.

In her 84 years in Ada, Melba has been involved in many social activities. She’s been a member of the First Christian Church since 1925. She was a long-time member of the Wednesday Morning Music Club, and as an accomplished pianist in her younger days, she often entertained others. She was involved in the League of Women Voters, and has long been a member of the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary. In particular, she was for many years an active fund-raiser for the Salvation Army children’s summer camp program. One of Ada’s best bridge players, Melba was until recently a member of four bridge groups in town.

She has made a number of philanthropic contributions to various charities in Ada, especially to East Central University and to the First Christian Church.

Melba at age 100, with Zebbie's great-granddaughter, Siggy

Melba at age 100, with Zebbie’s great-granddaughter, Siggy

Even at the age of 100, Melba still lives at home, on South Broadway Blvd. She says she’s planning to live to be 122. Preparations for the party are underway. Smiley

Posted 14 years, 11 months ago at 10:27 pm.

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Carlos Joins the Ramsey Racers

Carlos with Kart
Around September, I bought a go-kart for our grandson, Carlos, so he could join Devin and me in autocross racing. He hasn’t had very many opportunities to drive it yet, since he started just at the end of our regular summer series, but he’s having a good time. And we’re very much enjoying having him there. Ian (his dad and my son) has been helping us prepare the kart and get it to the events, and the whole family (Ian, Susan, Siggy, and Carlos) come occasionally.
Here’s what Carlos looks like without the helmet:
Carlos
He’ll be racing in the Formula Junior B class. There aren’t a lot of competitors, but it’s a great way for kids to have a chance to race in a very safe and supportive environment.
One thing I really like about our local SCCA events is their extreme safety consciousness. Whenever the juniors are moving, all other cars are stopped, and remain stopped until the juniors are back in their own grid area. And the stewards who run this youth program (both fathers of girls who race in the Formula Junior classes) are great with the kids.
Here’s Carlos with part of his pit crew (Siggy):
Carlos and Siggy with Kart

Posted 16 years, 2 months ago at 5:37 pm.

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Our Pacific Northwest Vacation

Alice and I just returned from a 21-day driving tour of the Pacific Northwest, including Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Vancouver Island (British Columbia), Banff National Park (Alberta), Montana, and Wyoming. This is our first North American vacation in a long time, and our first long driving vacation ever. We had a great time, had very enjoyable visits with four relatives and their families, and saw some truly beautiful parks.

This vacation was a bit more manic than we usually attempt, as we had a lot of specific things we wanted to do. Aside from the vacation spots, summarized in photos below, we had nice visits with

  • Rudy’s sister, Shawna Ramsey, and Patrick, in Reno, Nevada
  • Alice’s sister, Jeanne Haster, and Jim, Katie, and Ben, in Portland, Oregon
  • Alice’s nephew, Robert Farrell, and Ginger, in Seattle, Washington
  • Alice’s cousin, Vicki Holbrook, and Chuck, in Whitefish, Montana

Here’s a very brief set of photo highlights, intended for family and friends. They may or may not be interested, but I can’t imagine that anyone else will be. (smile)

Colorado River, Fisher Towers, and Mount Waas, near Moab, Utah (6/10/2007)
Double Arch, Arches National Park, Utah (6/11/2007)
Rudy with his sister, Shawna, at Lake Tahoe, near Reno, Nevada (6/13/2007)
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon (6/15/2007)

Pictures don’t do it justice!

Chinese Garden, Portland, Oregon (6/17/2007)
Gatsby Hotel, Victoria, British Columbia (6/19/2007)

Our lodging.

High Tea at the Empress Hotel, Victoria, British Columbia (6/20/2007)

With Denver Post Travel section (we’re hoping to get into print)

Alice at Butchart Garden, near Victoria, British Columbia (6/21/2007)
Iron Mine Bay, Pikes Road Trails, East Sooke, British Columbia (6/22/2007)
Lake Agnes from the Teahouse, Banff National Park, Alberta (6/25/2007)

After a 2.2-mile uphill trail. We nearly froze at the top. You can see the wind in the photo!

Above Upper Falls, Johnston Canyon, Banff National Park, Alberta (6/26/2007)
Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (6/29/2007)

I also did some coffee-related things, attending the Pacific Northwest Home Roaster’s Gathering and experiencing several very special coffee shops in Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, and even Whitefish, Montana. I hereby express my gratitude to Alice for her tolerance. :-)

Especially enjoyable were several hikes we did, and I shot video of my favorite, Johnston Canyon in Banff National Park. I plan to prepare a short video on this hike. Banff is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.

Posted 16 years, 8 months ago at 10:14 pm.

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