Sunday, August 3, 2008

Grandfather of the Year

Recently I had the privilege of hosting my 18 month old granddaughter, Luca for ten days. After several hours of wearing Grandpa Rick out I found out she liked riding around in the back of my jeep with the top down. This was the only way I could get any rest during the daylight hours.

This is a photo of Luca at 55mph somewhere in beautiful Honey Creek Township.

500 miles and we never left the county...

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Rick

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Jay's Boat


A picture paints a thousand words... This is my nephew Jay sailing his skiff that he built with his own two hands near his home on the barrier islands in North Carolina. Jay has matured into an outstanding young man and has made his Uncle Rick proud.
I only hope to get the chance to sail with him some day.
Semper Fi Jay,
Uncle Rick

Friday, August 1, 2008



The Hanging of Betsey Reed
By Rick Kelsheimer

A book review by Tom Frew

In mid January the author dropped by the SCHS and presented us with a copy of his book and our esteemed President asked me to read and comment on it, so here is my review.
First of all this is a historically accurate book, and chronicles the events leading up to the trial and hanging of Elizabeth Reed in Lawrenceville, Ill on the 23rd of May, 1845, for the poisoning of her husband. She was the only woman publicly hanged in Ill. And all the events took place within just a few miles of where we now live.
The author takes literary license to make the story real! As with other historical novels before him he puts the reader into the life and times of the characters. Mr. Kelsheimer has invented several of the people, who populate his book, but only one is of any consequence and that is the narrator of the story. I found the character of Nathan Crockett so real, that I wanted to look him up and see what became of him. All of the locations are like old friends to most of us, from Merom and Hutsonville to Palestine where most of the story takes place. You feel like you are walking along the same roads with these people of the 1840s, stumbling over the same rocks. You can see in your mind the events, and as I did, you must make up your own mind as to the guilt or innocence of Betsey Reed. All in all I truly enjoyed this book and hope to reed Rick’s next book soon

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Remembering J.D.


J.D. Kelsheimer (May 4, 1962- July 14 2008)

It's hard to believe my little brother isn't around to get me in trouble anymore. The last conversation I had with him was a little over a month ago and he talked about going on an adventure together. He didn't care about the "whys" and "hows". It was just another memory for the scrapbook in his mind. That was the kind of reasoning that got us both grounded for most of our adolescence. Even though it was usually his idea, I usually got stuck holding the bag because I was the oldest and should have known better. The only time I got the better of him was when I talked him into jumping off of the roof while I did a drum roll. (Just like they do at the circus.) He ended up in a cast with a broken foot and I had to wait on him all summer long.
There wasn't a pond, creek, or mud hole within three miles of our home that we didn't sample at least once. We'd come home covered in mud, leaches, and cockle burrs, but we didn't care. Everything was an adventure. We fought like cats and dogs and then made up to look for more trouble. We raced and wrecked bikes, go karts and motorcycles by the score and caught fish by the hundreds. We played baseball, basketball, and football for hours until it finally became too dark to see. We pretended that I was Tom Sawyer and he was Huck Finn. I'll miss my partner in crime.

J.D. lived his life as one big adventure... we should all do the same.

Godspeed little brother

Rick

Thursday, July 17, 2008

My Casket Racer for the Betsey Reed Festival



This was by far the fastest casket racer at this year's Betsey Reed Festival, but unfortunately another pine box had much faster pushers than my team. In the immortal words of the most optimistic Cub fan. "Wait til next year"
The cool paint job was courtesy of my son Ben.
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Rick

Words to live by...

It is better to seep than to blow.

Rick will be speaking in Sullivan Indiana on July 20th

Just a note to let you know that I'll be speaking at the Sullivan County Historical Society on Sunday afternoon at 2pm. The topic will be The Hanging of Betsey Reed, but I will also be discussing My new book, Wa-ba-shik-ki which should be released in late September. Hope to see you there. The museum is on the west side of the square. Admission is free.

Rick

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Words to live by

When the sun goes down...It's going to get dark.

It's all good...as long as it isn't bad.

All good trilogies come in threes.


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Rick

Friday, April 25, 2008

Wa-ba-shik-ki
On sacred waters, shining white
my lover waits
alone...at night
She spies the moon
and pleas for me
carry him home
Wa-ba-shik-ki

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Breaking up is hard to do

As I end Wa-ba-shik-ki, I find it hard to say goodbye to the characters that have lived in my mind for the past year. They have been good company, often misbehaving, not following their plotted lives, struggling always to travel their own path. Most have made it to the end, but one will go to his great reward before the story ends, alas he was a troubled soul and will soon be at peace. It will be a quick and merciful death; I promise. I should be finished with the book by the first of May as the editing process is already beginning I fear I have not done my characters justice. I beg their forgiveness. Look for Wa- ba-shik-ki around Labor Day.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

A Christmas Story

December should be a relaxing family oriented time of the year where we reflect on our blessings and forgive those who have given us the shaft during the past twelve months. So with yule tide cheer in my heart, I finished up my cup of extra creamy cocoa, bundled up in my holly leaf patterned scarf and headed to the mall to purchase blessings for others.

As I joyfully made my way into the parking lot, nary a parking space could be found. Finally after several minutes of circling, I spotted a woman walking toward their car, so I followed her and patiently waited for her to leave. After applying her makeup and making two calls on her cell phone she looked at me and asked me if I would like to park in her space. "Why yes I would," I replied cheerfully. Then she proceeded to make another phone call and and added some more lipstick. Minutes later when she finally decided to leave she backed out and blocked my way allowing a beat up pickup truck to take my space. A portly lass in a NASCAR sweatshirt, who bore a striking resemblance to Dick the Bruiser stepped out and defiantly raised three fingers in honor of Dale Earnhardt and told me to read between the lines. I know of somebody who just made the naughty list in my book. But its Christmas, a time for forgiving. So I did.

First on my list was a perfume that could only be found in Victoria's Secret. It was on my fiance's wish list so the purchase was not optional. I can honestly say that I had never stepped a foot inside of Victoria's before, but once your inside, the secret is pretty much out of the bag. Holy Cow! There was stuff in there that made my face turn brighter red than Santa's jump suit. Get in and get out! That was the plan. Fat chance! A woman with more chins than Chinese phonebook held a a little piece of black lace and asked if I thought it would look good on her. She wanted to surprise her husband on Christmas morning. "Oh he'll be surprised I assured her,"as I ran to another cashier who was adorned in a elf cap and lace wings. I hope she has the paddles and crash cart ready. She's going to need them.

After assuring the little elf angel that all I wanted was the perfume and I wasn't interested in the leopard bikini or feather boa, she insisted wrapping my little bottle of perfume in a pink and purple Christmas bag, that was large enough to carry a pair of basketballs with the Victoria's Secret logo big enough to read from a hundred yards away.

Trying to act as masculine as possible, I slithered back into the mall and walked right into none other than Ms. Dick the Bruiser herself. She took one look at my bag and called me a pervert. Mothers started to drag their children away and a security cop started meandering in my direction. Like a beaten dog I cowered my way back to my jeep, a beaten man.
From this point on...all Christmas shopping will be done on the internet.

I'm beginning to understand the Grinch's point of view...

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Merry Christmas
Rick

Sunday, November 4, 2007

A Night at the Symphony

Last night I spent a most enjoyable night with my daughter as we watched the Colorado Symphonic Orchestra in Denver. It was called, "A Night with John Williams." He is the guy that wrote the scores to Jaws, E.T., Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Superman and many more. I have to admit that I enjoyed it as much as the time I saw Arrowsmith and Ted Nugent at the same show, back when I was in high school. It's not the same sort of thing you feel at a rock concert, but it moves you never the less. Instead of feeling ramped up like you do at a rock concert or football game, you feel soothed and refreshed. I couldn't help but notice how an orchestra of over a hundred musicians managed to blend into a signal sound or voice. It's quite a feat. I also noticed that being an orchestra conductor looks like a pretty good gig. All you have to do is stand up front, wave a wand, and receive all the credit without playing a single musical note. Despite being tone deaf and suffering from a case of "having no rhythm", I think I could pull it off.
I will be taking applications for the Bowling Alley Philharmonic Orchestra...
Kazoo players need not apply

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Maestro Rick