Open House at St. Joe Police Department & Bye Bye St. Joe

Our last day in St. Joseph, Missouri started off in the morning at the Law Enforcement Center (LEC). A new expansion of the building, which houses both the St. Joseph Police Department and the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office, had just been completed and today was an open house for the public.

Training Sergeant Marla Wilson (the lady in red) greeted us on the steps of the LEC and was our tour guide.

Several local politicians gave speeches in the training room of the Police Department explaining how the expansion had all come about. By the time everyone finished speaking, we decided it was kind of neat that our group of 4 was about the only "public" who came to the shindig. Most of the rest were somehow involved in the expansion project.

This is Marla's office where she thinks about ways to recruit new officers and train old ones.

Here Marla is explaining to our group (including both television and newspaper reporters) how the reception area of the St. Joseph Police Department now appears a lot friendlier and less scary than it did in the past.

This is the roll call room...straight out of Hill Street Blues.

Marla proudly showed us the gym housed in the building. She is an avid user of the facility.

Pause for a family snap. Notice Carol (the OTHER lady in red)...like mother like daughter...and it WASN'T planned.

Proof Doug, Marla, Sean and Carol were there appeared in the St. Joseph News-Press the next day. Marlon's black shoe DOES appear in the lower left hand corner, but wasn't mentioned in the photograph caption.

After the open house, we met Marlon's dad for one last big meal.

Trina showed up for a final goodbye as we left Sharp RV Park about 3pm. Thanks to Sharp for letting us stay past the noon checkout.

Trina had come to show off her new hair color. Not bad!

For more pictures of today's events, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/august/sgt-marla-wilson-gi/ .

To be continued...

Fuji's with Trina & Delbert

Our final night in St. Joseph, Trina and Delbert took us out to experience Fuji's Japanese Steakhouse & Sake Bar.

Delbert and Trina look over the menu. They decide to start us off with some veggie sushi. This was everyone's first time trying sushi.

We look like we survived the sushi.

Now on with the show. Click on the play button to see our chef in action.

Thanks to Trina and Delbert for a fun meal!

For a few other pictures, see http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/august/trina-and-delbert-t/ .

To be continued...

A Friendly Lunch and Dad's Well

Today we had lunch in downtown St. Joseph at Boudreaux's Louisiana Seafood and Steaks (http://www.heyboudreaux.com/).

We met up with Sean Wood and Marla Wilson, two friends and former co-workers of Marlon's when he worked at the 1/2 Price Store in the early 90's. Carol, Marla's mom, joined us for lunch.

Sean is now a security officer at Heartland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph. Marla, meanwhile, is a Sergeant in the St. Joseph Police Department. She is currently their Recruiting and Training Officer and spent many years with their K-9 unit.

Marla carefully eats her Lobster Bisque.

Marla demonstrates her gun drawing stance.

Sean showed Marlon how to set the timer on the camera to capture a picture of the entire group.

After lunch, we drove back up to Rea, Missouri to see Marlon's dad.

While touring Monty's land, we decided to inspect his well.
All appeared to be well.

An after-dinner group shot.

For a few more pictures of today, visit http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/august/eating-lunch-with-m/ and http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/august/spending-the-day-wi-2/ .

To be continued...

Day with Marlon's Mom

Today we spent the day with Marlon's mom, Angie and her cat, Callie. We visited her in her apartment, which she will be vacating soon to move into her new townhouse.

Here is a rare picture of Doug holding Callie on his lap. She did not stay there for long.

Here's Angie perusing her brand-new Sprint bill for her new hot red Razor phone.

Marlon hooked up his mom's new LCD tv for her.

Marlon and Mom-Angie's porch is the one on the left-all of the flowers are hers.

We then went to visit Hunt's Grandview Orchard near Amazonia, Missouri. We forgot to take pictures but during the fall they have hay rides and a petting farm. While there Marlon tried their apple cider and gave it a thumbs up.

Next, we took a drive out toward Rosecrans Memorial Airport and saw this sight, somewhat reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds.

Some of the aircraft at Rosecrans Memorial Airport 3 miles northwest of St. Joseph, Missouri. Rosecrans is used for general aviation as well as being one of two bases for the Missouri Air National Guard.

After eating with Angie at Ryan's Restaurant, Marlon and Doug returned to the motorhome and came across this unusual sight.

For more pictures of this day, visit http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/august/spending-the-day-wi-1/ .

To be continued...

Mom Buys a Townhouse and Alan Has a Luau

This morning we went to look at the townhouse Marlon's mom, Angie, was in the process of purchasing. Here are some pictures of it.

It has an open kitchen. Behind the sink and dishwasher, the kitchen opens to the living room.

This is the view from the back patio.

This is her patio. She already plans on screening it in soon.

Closing on the townhouse is set for October 1.

On Saturday night, we headed to the house of Marlon's brother, Alan. Alan and Susan (his girlfriend) were hosting a Luau party for family and friends.

Here are Marlon, Susan and Alan. Each guest was given a traditional "leiing" by the hosts.

Doug was able to find a palm tree to duck under.

This is the bridge over Alan's fish pond. The pond is stocked with many fish, most of them nishikigoi (more commonly known as koi).

Koi are believed to have originated from Eastern Asia. Koi and tattoos of koi are traditionally considered lucky.

Dillon, Marlon's 15 year old GRAND nephew, has a Hawaiian drink. The GRAND makes Marlon feel old.

Dillon, Trina, Mason and Maya (Susan's neice) after eating a delicious meal of steak and chicken kabobs, mango salsa and chips, potato salad and cake.

Maya was learning the hula hoop for the first time.

While Mason appeared to be an old hand at it.

Jennifer and Shannon are the proud parents of proficient hula-hooper, Mason. Delbert, Trina's husband, shares in the pride.

Thanks to Alan and Susan for a good time!

For more pictures of Angie's new townhouse, go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/august/looking-at-marlons-/ . More luau pictures are at http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/august/luau-at-alans-and-s/ .

To be continued...

Exploring with Marlon's Dad

Today we went up near Rea, Missouri to pick up Marlon's dad, Monty. He would be our tour guide today.

First, we went to observe the Bluegrass Ridge Wind Farm. This facility is located near King City, Missouri.

The 27 Suzlon S-88 turbines are some of the largest and most powerful in the world. Each stands 260 feet, has 3 140 foot long blades and has the capacity to generate 2.1 megawatts.

Here is a video of the turbines in action. Right now the square is black, just click on the play button and the video will begin.

Next we headed to Conception, Missouri. There we were going to eat lunch and go on a self-guided tour of Conception Abbey.

Monty had recently been on a guided tour of The Abbey with a group from his Baptist Church and thought it would be a neat thing for us to see. And as evidenced by the following pictures, it WAS very impressive.

This church was originally completed in 1891. Upon its 50th Anniversary in 1941, Pope Pius XII designated the church of Conception Abbey a minor basilica. This honorary title was given to churches which were considered spiritual centers and Conception Abbey was the first such basilica west of the Mississippi River.

In 1999, a two decades long Basilica renewal project costing $9 million was completed.

Look at the size of those organ pipes! The smallest one is about the size of a pencil. The biggest one is almost big enough a man to stand in.

Monty and Doug stop for a picture outside Conception Abbey after lunch and tour.

The next stop for the day was in Clyde, Missouri. There we would be taking a guided tour of the monastery of The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.

There was a room full of tapestries which we were not able to take pictures of, but the rest of the tour was open for pictures.

This is a room full of relics. What is a relic? Basically, relics can be physical remains of saints or items such as clothing which have been touched by saints.

This is Saint Beatrice, the Martyr. This relic display contains actual parts of the saint's body, including the bones of her hands and feet.

This was one of many bejeweled solid gold items in the monastery.

Next we went to view the inside of the church at the monastery.


Our tour guide, Sister Jacqueline, poses with Marlon and his dad. Sister Jacqueline has been a nun for 53 years.

Next Monty took us to Maryville to show us his gravestone.

Monty's wife, Marlon's stepmom, Jeri, joined us later to go to dinner.

For more pictures of the destinations in this post go to http://public.fotki.com/Marlonfleenor/1/2007/august/spending-the-day-wi/ .

To be continued...