It’s Pickleball Tournament Season Again
Posted on May 13, 2024 by Ching under Community, Pickleball.
Cinco de Mayo weekend was packed with tournaments but it’s only the beginning. Once we get to this time of year, I feel like there’s multiple tournaments competing for your attention every weekend.
On Saturday, May 4, we were at Chicken N Pickle for Erica Case’s pickleball tournament to raise money for her Leukemia Lymphoma Society visionary of the year campaign. Ronnie, Jay, and Becca were actually playing in that one and they needed a fourth. I volunteered Brian. I hadn’t donated to Erica’s campaign yet at this point so I figured paying for Brian’s team was a good way to show my support.
The next day was the day of the first iPickle Nation 3-player team tournament which was held at Genesis Rock Road. We had just the right number of teams for the courts that we had. Katie Merrill and Deana Holman came up from Oklahoma to play. The event went pretty smoothly and we finished right on schedule.
Here’s a little highlight video that I made.
Speaking of iPN, the weekly Nation Builder Series round robins are back at Riverside. We are playing every Sunday starting at 9:30 AM (except June 16 because that’s the weekend of the Midwest pickleball tournament). You can sign up for the weekly iPN mini tournament here.
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Dustin and Katie’s Wedding
Posted on May 10, 2024 by Ching under Events.
A couple of weeks ago, Brian and I had the privilege to attend Dustin Herman and Katie Gann’s wedding. It was a beautiful wedding at a Catholic church just down the street from the Belmont. (That’s why we ended up brunching there before the wedding.) I was concerned at first because of all the sitting, kneeling, standing, kneeling, sitting, standing again that goes along with Catholic ceremonies and my whole knee situation but I guess you can opt out of the kneeling part and just sit so that’s what we did. It was a beautiful ceremony and Katie looked absolutely stunning. I also loved that they had violinist there. They started the ceremony right on schedule and everything went so smoothly. I am glad that we went to witness their special day.
We weren’t really sure about going because we were worried we wouldn’t know anyone but I really wanted to be there for Dustin and Katie. They are such a lovely couple and so sweet together. Seeing young couples reminds me of how Brian and I were 25 years ago. It just warms my heart.
I am so glad we went because there were actually quite a few pickleball people there so we did know people! And, I liked how they arranged people who knew each other into tables together so, rather than sitting at a table with strangers, we were actually among friends. Our table had Scott and Michelle Wolford, Michael and Naomi Harris, Noi and Lock Sourinthone, and us. I cracked up because another pickleball person came by and asked who was at our table and Brian listed everyone including “Noi and his wife.” I had to explain to him that Lock is Noi’s brother. Brian just assumed that since we were all couples at our table and they had the same last name that they must be husband and wife also.
It was so nice to finally meet Scott’s wife. For a long time we all thought she was imaginary. She is actually outgoing and fun. She just doesn’t play pickleball and so that’s why we never see her.
Brian and I were both relieved to see people there that we knew.
There were quite a few “pickleball” tables. Here’s another one right by ours.
They had quite an extensive guest list. Four hundred people were invited to the reception and I think almost everyone came. We even saw our family doctor there! As it turns out, Dr. Scott Hane is a friend of the Gann family. The bride grew up and went to school with his kids.
Lucky People performed at the wedding reception and we ran into one of my coworker’s exes who does sound for them.
Pickleball daughter #2 Kendra Wicks was working the event. She is such a pro!
Reception was fabulous. The food was delicious (all of it) and the drinks flowed freely. Our table was conveniently by the bar. I couldn’t really drink — I had the one drink and champagne toast — because of my meds but being by the bar proved to be quite entertaining. They also had these digital disposal camera thing that I thought was a really neat idea.
Katie and Dustin looked so perfect together. I am so happy for them!
Anyway, here is a short little highlight video that I made using pictures from the evening. Congratulations to Katie and Dustin!
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Brunch at the Belmont
Posted on May 6, 2024 by Ching under Food and Drink.
As many times as we’d been to eat at the Belmont over the years, we’d never been to brunch there. Dustin and Katie’s one o’clock wedding was the perfect excuse to do so because the church was just down the street from the restaurant.
Here are some pictures of our food.
I had the Dutch baby, which was so delicious!
You can’t really beat having ice cream for breakfast.
Brian had biscuits and gravy.
This is the Matcha Mango drink, which is basically like a breakfast margarita. LOL. It has matcha, mango, papaya, lemon, orange, and tequila.
Don’t mind Brian in the pic below. He was a little bit cranky that I asked him to wear a suit to the wedding.
Stay tuned for pics from the reception.
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Brian’s First Time at the Kitchen (Or So He Says)
Posted on May 3, 2024 by Ching under Food and Drink.
Brian says he’d never been to the Kitchen so we decided to have lunch there a couple of weeks ago. He actually really liked it. Not enough to dethrone Athens Gyros Express as his favorite but he’s open to returning and trying some other things. So we will probably be going back.
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Mani and Pedi with Chris
Posted on April 29, 2024 by Ching under Things to Do.
We managed to get Chris Townley to join us for manis and pedis at Nails & Beyond a couple of weeks ago. It’s crazy to think that my friend Misty Miller introduced us to this place over 15 years ago and we are still going there long after she has stopped. Since then I’ve known some other friends who are regulars. There is nowhere else in Wichita that you can get nails done for such a reasonable price.
Nails & Beyond
6110 W Central Ave
Wichita, KS 67212
(316) 944-0187
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