Kiwanis visits the food bank

Representatives of 4 clubs are briefed

This past week, our Kiwanis DCM (District Commissioner's Meeting) was held at the All Faiths Food Bank in suburban Sarasota, east of the Interstate off Fruitville Road.  It was called by our incoming Lt. Governor, Jackie Booth (pictured in black skirt in center of picture).
Jackie will officially be Lt. Governor for District 18-North starting on October 1st, and running through September 30, 2013, when I am scheduled to wear that hat.

There are four Kiwanis Clubs in our district, one of the smallest, and the only bifurcated one in the state.  If I'm lucky, they'll redistrict and I won't have a turn in the barrel - ha ha.  Speaking of barrels, the collection barrels for food need help, as you can see the shelves should be full, but they are not.  This is one reason Jackie decided to take the meeting "on the road" to show us where needs exist.  She tells us the next meeting shall be at the Salvation Army in November, very timely as our club starts ringing the bell at the new Publix store on Longboat Key soon thereafter.  Nice job, Jackie - good luck for your year as Lt. Governor.

Food awaiting packaging

Shelves dangerously bare

By the Authority Invested in Me........

Lori's dad Jim Ritter, me, Kevin

Lori's son, Mike Cullen, was the ring bearer

Lori, her sister Sharon and Jake

...under the laws of the State of Florida, I now pronounce you husband and wife.  You may now kiss the bride.

Thus ended the ceremony of the second  marriages for both Lori and Kevin, on a very beautiful and warm Sunday afternoon in Riverview, Florida.  By saying "I do" (or "si quiero", en Espanol), they completed the knot that began in New Jersey, and moved to the Tampa area where they built a home for themselves, full of love and beagles.  Lori, his beagle rescue foster mom, is now his second mom.

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Boyd 

No picture of Lori would be complete without a beagle, and that's Jake - her first boy beagle - along with her sister.  Ripley had been the surrogate beagle in their lives before Jake.  Soon Ripley and Jake can run in that extensive back yard where the two boy beagles can join Katie and Mollie, her girls, and hopefully run a few pounds off the Ripper.  We go on cruises to seemingly gain weight, Ripley goes to stay with Kevin and Lori to lose it.



Lori and Kevin wrote simple vows, beginning with the words "I marry you with my eyes wide open."

They offered themselves to each other as a "partner in life"and further stated "Because of you, I laugh, I smile, I dare to dream again".

You have to truly appreciate those words, as they are words to live by.

Favorite Boys Update

This post will be remarkably short, just an update on my two favorite boys.  That's Cole Robert Kreienkamp on the left ("Cole Bob") and Ripley N.M.I. Wild on the right. While Ripley Wild has no middle initial, he does have his own FaceBook page (I'd love to write one for Cole, but my daughter and wife wouldn't appreciate my humor and captions).

Ripley Wild

Cole Robert Kreienkamp

This week, Cole Bob was pictured outside his baby sitters home, enjoying the late summer weather.  He's ten months old, has learned to stand and cruise along the furniture, but drops to a crawling position to move about.  Only a matter of time before walking.

Ripley was once again modeling scarves for doggies, to be included in a fashion spread by his friend Shannon's new business - pupcakepoochparty.com.  He is perhaps the most famous beagle on our island, as he certainly doesn't lack for pup-licity.

Anyway, that's my story about my favorite little buddies this week.  Maybe Caitlin Wild Kreienkamp will create a FaceBook page for Cole Bob, but for now Ripley Wild has good optics and high favorables in the PR race.  Long may they both wave.