News about the RKIDs
Summer 2024 Edition
Heat Waves Edition! While 2024 was a hot summer, our cool social activities continued unabated.
The Sing! Sing! Sing! musical group played it cool with hot Broadway tunes. Hosts Kathy O. and David M. conveniently provided sheet music and lyrics (or just lyrics if that was the preference) in binders for the fourteen vocalizers. Gina, Marie V., Kate, Kathi and Dick R, Sandy and Evan, Mary Ann, Marilyn O., Barb and Jim C., and Michelle raised the proverbial roof with their crooning. Cole Porter would have loved it!
At the Old Ball Games
The Big Train is a nickname for baseball hall of famer Walter Johnson, who pitched for the predecessor team of the Washington Nationals from 1907 through 1927, and an eponymous collegiate-level baseball team. Jim C. and Kathy O. organized an outing in late June to Shirley Povich field to see them play the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts at a night game. Despite the nearly 100 degree temps, Barb, Jack, Michelle, Marie V., Bill, Maddy, Marilyn O., Obie, David M., Toni, David D. and Marie V. excitedly watched the team come back from a 7 runs deficit early on to win in extra innings.
in Shirley Povich's Possession
OK, they didn't stay for the tenth inning tie-breaker, but instead strolled to the statues of Povich and Johnson for this major-league-class group photo. Just before it was taken, a foul ball had landed nearby and Obie found it! In the left photo, Kathy is seen holding the ball, before temporarily handing it to Shirley Povich. Then it was given back to Obie and Marilyn. What a keepsake for a great outing of innings!
Two months later, Jim and Barb C., Marilyn O, Connie, Dick and Kathi, Toni and David D., and Michelle Y assembled for another ball game. This time it was north for our annual Frederick Keys outing. You might have expected the weather for August 21 to be at least as hot as it was for the Big Train game, but it was very pleasant – 70s and fair at the park.
And the outcome was ... we won! The score was tied at the end of the ninth inning, but a strange set of rules governing the MLB Draft League meant the Frederick Keys and the Williamsport Crosscutters had to play half of the tenth inning. The away team didn't score so that meant the team on defense (the Keys) won the game. Huh? Exactly how did that happen? The nine RKIDs who attended the game didn't quite understand it, but there were smiles all around as we walked away with a victory. A great time was had by all.
Labor Day Party
Watches the Pre-Fed Group
for Signs of Hunger
While Dan C. Readies the Grilled Meats
The annual tradition continued as Obie and Marilyn O. again hosted 40+ guests. The food (acquired by Obie, Marilyn and Kathy O.), the weather, the conversations and general fun were all of the highest caliber.
and Kate Catching Up
in the Living Room
(it was not on the Menu)
Between bites, old and new friends talked about their summer happenings and plans for the fall.
Liz and Kevin
Share Laughs in the Sun Room
Many of us renewed our RKIDs memberships as well as registered for the next semester of dance classes at Ridgeview Middle School. In addition to class, there's so much coming up - the Gettysburg National Military Park tour, Blackthorn Halloween ceili to name but a few activities happening soon.
Kathryn, Carole and Alison
Plus the Book Discussion Club has scheduled many months of readings and other activities. There's a lot more to the RKIDs than just dancing!
What's an O'Brien party without entertainment?! Willie played several tunes on the guitar, some with original humorous lyrics, while we sang along. Later, there was spirited dancing of the Haymaker's Jig and the North Kerry Set. What a fun way to work off some tasty picnic food!
Here's a video of the singing and dancing:
Friends Hanging Out on a Perfect Day
Dining Out
Indian Dishes
and Side Dishes
Marie V. expanded our international cuisine sampling by setting up an Indian dinner at Tandoori Nights in the Kentlands of Gaithersburg. Present and delectably accounted for were Dick and Kathi, Marilyn O, Maddy, Bill, Chuck and Clare C., Mary Ann, Sonja and Tom.
The fare ranged from essential naan and pakora starters, mild saags and fish dishes, to a pretty spicy chicken vindaloo.
at The Village Green
On June 15, in its air-conditioned environs, the monthly Village Green brunchers, this time including Sonja, Tom, Jack, Marilyn O., Kathy O., Kate, Michelle, Connie, Kathryn, Christine, Maddy and Bill., tried the omelettes, pancakes and other goodies while discussing most-everything under the sun (but comfortably indoors).
Games Day
Maddy (not shown) Play Rummikub
On August 3, once again graciously hosted by David M. and Kathy O., we merrily competed with one another playig table games. Joining the steely-nerved matches were Mary Ann, Sandy, Emma, Jerry, Colleen, Jim Ca., Barb, Marie V., Dick, Kathi, Bill and Maddy. Left-Right-Center, Rummikub, Mexican Train, Sequence and Ping Pong challenged the players for several hours.
at Left-Right-Center
Intense Game of Mexican Train
Peals of Laughter and occasional moans of tragic loss filled the house!
Visit to the Frederick Douglass House
A group of RKIDs participated in a tour of the Frederick Douglass House in Washington D.C. on July 24. It was an entertaining and enlightening experience. Also, it was an excellent follow-up to the Book Club's reading about this great American hero's visit to Ireland: Giant's Causeway: Frederick Douglass's Irish Odyssey and the Making of an American Visionary by Tom Chaffin.
Thanks go to Sonja for organizing this outing. She managed all the details, including dinner afterwards at Firebirds in Gaithersburg, where we discussed our visit. Also touring were Tom O, Marie V., Marilyn O., Marilyn M., Obie, Connie, Jim C. and Barb.
Cedar Hill
South Sligo Summer School
The South Sligo Summer School (SSSS) was held on July 14-20 in Tubbercurry, County Sligo. Enthusiastic participants from this area, many of them RKIDs, were Toni and David D., Michelle Y., Molly and Ken R., Pat and Jane T., Anne Marie R., Bridget C. and Marilyn M. The school offered a wide range of music and dance classes. Most of us enjoyed six mornings of classes with master set dance teacher Pat Murphy, and we all danced our feet off at a ceili each night, each featuring a different well-known Irish band.
In addition to the dancing and the musical instrument classes, we made a couple of group excursions during the afternoon “rest” period: Hazelwood Loop walk at Lough Gill and an oyster farm on Sligo Bay.
We loved dancing in the beautifully painted hall with gorgeous wood floors, seeing friends from all corners of the world every year, and drinking in the beauty of County Sligo! In 2025, the SSSS begins on July 13. Please think about going … but make your hotel reservations now!
East African Safari
While it was not an RKIDs-sponsored event, eleven members journeyed to Kenya and Tanzania for a wondrous safari.
They were on a Road Scholar trip called The Best of Kenya & Tanzania: A Safari & Cultural Experience.
In Kenya, they visited Nairobi, Amboseli National Park (with its vistas of Kilimanjaro) and the Maasai Mara Reserve. Over in Tanzania, they toured the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro crater conservation area. Each had a diverse variety of wildlife to view. For example, there was a cheetah chasing a gazelle in a life or death race!
Part of the Road Scholar experience included a charitable visit to a primary school and gladly mingle with the students. To get to a fishing village abutting Lake Victoria, they traveled by canoe. A weird but interesting side trip there was with a tribal medicine man. Before that, they drove off the beaten path to the Olduvai Gorge in the Great Rift Valley, site of the Leakey family's paleontological discoveries. Capping it off was a visit to an authentic Maasai village, with a greeting dance that included high-jumping men.
