Sunday, October 7, 2018

Our theme song should Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again”. We have been on the road, all family-based travel and good.

We were in West Lafayette September 29 – Oct 1 for the ever-adorable baby Ava’s baptism. Lise and I had the honor of being named Ava’s godparents. Not sure what all that entails but I think it’s my responsibility to teach her how to play blackjack. Hit on 16, pat on 17. I think that’s one of the ten commandments. A ceremony like a baptism should be a family event and this was no exception. Clan Eichhorn was pretty well represented at the ceremony. Always good to see family.

Stefan, Kasey, and Ava, post baptism.

Waiting for the Mexican take-out order.

West Lafayette isn’t exactly what I would call an exciting place, but we did have some fun. An artery clogging breakfast at the XXX diner is a must. And I got my barred owl for the year, while walking through Happy Hollow Park.

All that’s missing is scrapple.

This past Friday, we drove to Milwaukee for my niece Teresa’s wedding to her long-time partner Chris. They’re about 30 years old and have been dating since high school. For his toast my brother Rich’s main comment was, “don’t make us wait this long for grandkids.”

This was another good family trip. All my siblings showed up, something that doesn’t happen too often. Throw in a bunch of nieces and nephews and you have the makings of a family reunion.

Niece Katie, and her daughter Charlee , down from the Aleutian Islands.

Anita, in from PA, with nephew Zack, and his daughter Stella in from Chicago.

Saying Milwaukee is a beer town is something of an understatement. This is the ancestral home of Pabst Blue Ribbon, Dad’s go to beer later in life. So, we all went to the Pabst Tap Room to have one for Dad.

In the Pabst Tap Room, where they have an Olympic grade beer pong table.

My only prior experience with Milwaukee was driving by on the Interstate. It’s a pretty neat place. Milwaukee looks like one of those cities that had seen better days but is now undergoing a renaissance. There’s some interesting architecture, and a lot going on. Shame we had to leave on Saturday, without much time to explore.

The Pabst brewery, built like a castle.

Entrance to the Milwaukee Art Museum, on the shores of Lake Michigan.

In the “you can’t be serious category”, this is Belle, our friend’s new dog. A Great Pyrenees Mountain Dog puppy. A puppy mind you. Look at those feet. This beast will be using a VW bug as a chew toy.