August 2 - john and joyce just received a new email from Basso in Benin, West Africa:

"Hello Joyce, John, and Tucky

We are already in August, and as I proposed last time, I am trying to get in touch with
you during this month.
Everything is going right. Yesterday was our independence day. It was the first
anniversary with our new President. He was honored by some African Presidents who came to celebrate the feast with us. They were from Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Gabon. Nine countries sent detachements for the military parade: France, Belgium, Congo, Niger and the ones I named formerly. It was very interesting. With the new President we are getting consideration in Africa and in the world. He has gone to many countries in Africa, Asia and Europe. Maybe he will go very soon in America.
Tomorrow or the day after a man Americans dont like will pay a visit to Benin. It is
the President of Venezuela. I think that it will be in order to sign some economic contracts, mainly for getting petrol. You know, we are in a big need of petrol, and anyone who can satisfy our needs is welcome. It does not mean that we are going to forget our secular friends. In diplomatic affairs, the best way to solve a problem existing between two ennemies is to be friend with each one of them. I hope that you will give me your opinion about that assertion.
Bye Bye to everybody and take care.

Basso"

August 4 - john and Eddie, john's pond helper, moved 100 bags of mulch from Wal-Mart to zenpond today, fifteen bags at a time. john has had the path dug up due to installing the 12 zone sprinkler system. Now the path is being restored. However, a new problem, of sorts, has arisen. Last November, john threw away several rotting pumpkins after Haloween. He threw them in the garden east of the pump house. Now, an entire pumpkin patch has taken over the path, cutting off access around zenpond. Several beautiful pumpkins the size of watermelons are now growing in "The Patch".

Three very tame Mallards ducks have been enjoying zenpond all day inspite of john and Eddie working in the gardens. They are still preening and just hanging around. It is almost time for many more ducks to "rain into" zenpond for a dinner of cracked corn. The peace and calm of zenpond may be shattered at any time now.

The reason Basso sends emails to john and joyce is because they have been members of People to People for over 32 years and have many close friends around the world. This has changed the way john and joyce view the world. Now, when an earthquake or tsunami strikes anywhere in the world, it is striking john and joyce's hearts directly.

August 13 - john and joyce are waiting for a Garden Club, comprising of members of a church located at 63rd and Roe, to arrive at 1:30 PM this afternoon. At least 20 gardeners have asked to see zenpond today. They visit a garden once a month, and this time it happens to be zenpond.

August 13 (2:30 PM) - the Garden Club has left now. Very nice group. They are welcome to come back anytime! Three Mallard ducks stayed the entire time the group was standing on the deck. One person asked joyce if we had put the ducks in the pond just for this occasion. No, they are wild ducks, but just they have started hanging around zenpond all day. Pretty tame for wild ducks! They are so cute! john is watching them now. They are sleeping: one on the deck, two on the rocks around the fish fountain.

The New Theatre Guild also has asked john and joyce if they would host an "Over The River and Through The Woods" Garden Party in September for the first 50 responding members of the Guild. Attendees are asked to contribute $75 each towards scholarships for theatre students at three local universities. The play at the New Theatre is, of course, "Over The River and Through The Woods" starring Marion Ross and Paul Michael. Also starring in this comedy is Kansas City's own Dodie Brown. All three stars will be in attendance at the Garden Party/Summer Benefit.

john and several others are establishing a new web site for the Guild. To visit it go to: www.thenewtheatreguild.org. Earlier in the day john gave the Garden Club the current newsletter and membership forms for the New Theatre Guild.

August 19 - john has been painting the hallway white today. Monday the best tile guy in the world lays tile in the hall. This tile will match the great space tile. Jack Fisher, 913-449-4293l. John is backflushing the pond to clear the water. It is only two weeks before the benefit at john and joyce's house.

August 20 - john is still painting the 5 doors (front and back, 3 coats of paint). He is tired of painting! The hall is beginning to look good, so it is worth the effort.

The countdown to the Garden Party continues.

john also was able to get the lid off the bubble bead filter for the big pond. He broke a broom handle trying to break up the bead pack in the filter. He also added a ball valve to prevent the dirty water from flowing backwards into the pond. As a result, the water in the big pond is beginning to clear again, as it suppose to. It is nice to be able to see the Koi once again.

john forgot to refill the cracked corn saucer last night. This morning the fifty Mallards that come for breakfast were not too happy about that. They nearly rang the doorbell asking where their breakfast was. Sorry ducks, john promises to do better.

August 29 - Actually, the work john is doing on zenpond is inversely proportional to the number of entries on this website. In preparing for the "Over The River and Through The Woods" Garden Party, john has been using a huge amount of time "sprucing up" for the party. This includes tiling the hallway, using up 3 gallons of flat white paint and adding additional rope lighting to the roof of the deck. Eddie will be here for the next several days building a new wall behind the large waterfall for the East garden. That is the garden that produced two large pumpkins (again, what do you do with pumpkins in August?). Actually, zenpond looks better this year than it ever has before.

john and joyce has met Marion Ross and Paul Michael several times now. They are really lovely people. In fact, Marion is BEAUTIFUL! john saw the pre-rehearsal of the show "Over The River and Through The Woods". It is a comedy that leaves you crying at the end. Really impressive cast and a touching play! john and joyce will see the dress rehearsal this Wednesday. Paul sang the led song from "The Man From La Mancha" and received a standing ovation at the show briefing last week. What a voice! He played the lead for three years on Broadway. The Garden Party at zenpond is on-schedule! It should be a lot of fun!

August 30 (7:05 PM) - One dozen Mallards just fell from the sky into zenpond for dinner.

August 30 (7:07 PM) - Two dozen more Mallards just fell from the sky.

August 30 (7:09 PM) - Add three more ducks.

August 30 (7:11 PM) - Add four more.