Born 12/28/06 7.21pm 9lb 5oz 21" long (head was 15" around). He's darn cute.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Happy Timm
Granite took control over all the xmas toys. After a day of her desctuction Timm finally got to enjoy one squeaky toy for a few minutes.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
For the record - I STILL BELIEVE!
This is a true story copied from the blog of my friend Chicken & Waffles (click on the link for the full story)
I believed in Santa Claus until I was 12 years old. It seems incredible now, but yes, I admit it. My parents were so accomplished in perpetuating a myth in such elaborate fashion that my brother and I were outright believers, even when we were on the threshold of adolescence."
Friday, December 15, 2006
Thursday, December 14, 2006
IN-N-OUT Burger
In addition to the
Not So Secret Menu Items for IN-N-OUT Burger if you ask the counter employee for a map you'll get a wallet sized fol-up of all the In-N-Outs so you'll never be lost again!
Next time you're at In-N-Out (i.e. tomorrow . . . or maybe tonight), order a bag of these off-the-menu specials - they will appear on the receipt by name too!:
"3-by-3" = three meat patties and three slices of cheese.
"4-by-4" = four meat patties and four slices of cheese.
"2-by-4" = two meat patties and four slices of cheese.
*Note: You can get a burger with as many meat patties or cheese slices as you want. Just tell the In-N-Out Burger cashier how many meat patties and how much cheese you want and that is what you'll get! For instance, if you want 6 pieces of meat and 10 pieces of cheese tell them you want a "6-by-10."
"Double Meat" = like a Double Double without cheese.
"3 by Meat" = three meat patties and no cheese.
"Animal Style" = the meat is cooked and fried with mustard and then pickles are added, extra spread and grilled onions are added.
"Animal Style Fries" = fries with cheese, spread, grilled onions and pickles (if you ask for them).
"Protein Style" = for all you low-carbohydrate dieters, this is a burger with no bun (wrapped in lettuce).
"Flying Dutchman" = two meat patties, two slices of melted cheese and nothing else - not even a bun!
Fries "Well-Done" = extra crispy fries . . . even better than the regular!
Fries "Light" = opposite of fries well-done, more raw than most people like 'em
"Grilled Cheese" = no meat, just melted cheese, tomato, lettuce and spread on a bun.
"Veggie Burger" = burger without the patty or cheese. Sometimes we call this the "Wish Burger."
"Neapolitan" Shake = strawberry, vanilla and chocolate blended together.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Christmas Ideas
Welcome to the Oakland Zoo
What a great idea for giving the gift to that someone who has everything - support your local zoo!
Give the gift for ANIMAL ENRICHMENT
WHAT IS ENRICHMENT?
Enrichment is a term that describes a vast array of activities provided for captive wildlife. These activities can stimulate natural behaviors, such as scent marking, aggressive posturing, vocalizations or play behavior. Enrichment activities increase natural behavior and improve quality of life.
Enrichment activities can be a number of things. From spraying perfume on logs to get lions to scratch, rub or scent mark, to highly complex, computer run, random, mechanical food dispensers that simulate hunting. Some animals are offered live fish to catch in pools, others receive “puzzle feeders” to lengthen the time they spend feeding. Many activities are put on a schedule, and rotated to retain their novelty. This keeps the game fun. Other activities just need to be time consuming, and give the animal work or purpose.
Variety is the key to providing satisfying activities. Introducing new scents, objects, sounds and tastes keep the animals stimulated, and interested in their environment. This not only creates a healthier animal, but provides our zoo guests with a more educational experience. Enrichment can provide the opportunity to watch giraffe use it’s 18-inch, prehensile( grabbing) tongue to obtain food from a puzzle feeder, and you will have observed how a giraffe browses in Africa!
How do we come up with activity ideas? This is where knowing the animals is important. The keepers are often the ones to create new plans, based on both the natural history of the species, and
knowing the individual animals themselves. You would not want to offer branches on ropes if an antelope will eat the rope- this could make them sick. Or, chimpanzees may like popsicles made with fruit and juice, but for a lion, you better make a BLOOD-sicle! Creativity and animal experience are a necessary combination for generating new enrichment activities.
ENRICHMENT WISH LIST
Things you may already have around the house:
Perfumes
Spices
Towels
Tennis balls
Raffia
Cornstalks
Large nuts in the shell
Cardboard baby books
Plastic garden toys (flamingoes)
Telephone books
Blankets
Things that can be purchased at most pet stores:
Kongs
Manufactured parrot toys
Jolly balls
Large catnip cat toys
Any horse toy
For more information contact Margaret Rousser at Margaret@oaklandzoo.org
What a great idea for giving the gift to that someone who has everything - support your local zoo!
Give the gift for ANIMAL ENRICHMENT
WHAT IS ENRICHMENT?
Enrichment is a term that describes a vast array of activities provided for captive wildlife. These activities can stimulate natural behaviors, such as scent marking, aggressive posturing, vocalizations or play behavior. Enrichment activities increase natural behavior and improve quality of life.
Enrichment activities can be a number of things. From spraying perfume on logs to get lions to scratch, rub or scent mark, to highly complex, computer run, random, mechanical food dispensers that simulate hunting. Some animals are offered live fish to catch in pools, others receive “puzzle feeders” to lengthen the time they spend feeding. Many activities are put on a schedule, and rotated to retain their novelty. This keeps the game fun. Other activities just need to be time consuming, and give the animal work or purpose.
Variety is the key to providing satisfying activities. Introducing new scents, objects, sounds and tastes keep the animals stimulated, and interested in their environment. This not only creates a healthier animal, but provides our zoo guests with a more educational experience. Enrichment can provide the opportunity to watch giraffe use it’s 18-inch, prehensile( grabbing) tongue to obtain food from a puzzle feeder, and you will have observed how a giraffe browses in Africa!
How do we come up with activity ideas? This is where knowing the animals is important. The keepers are often the ones to create new plans, based on both the natural history of the species, and
knowing the individual animals themselves. You would not want to offer branches on ropes if an antelope will eat the rope- this could make them sick. Or, chimpanzees may like popsicles made with fruit and juice, but for a lion, you better make a BLOOD-sicle! Creativity and animal experience are a necessary combination for generating new enrichment activities.
ENRICHMENT WISH LIST
Things you may already have around the house:
Perfumes
Spices
Towels
Tennis balls
Raffia
Cornstalks
Large nuts in the shell
Cardboard baby books
Plastic garden toys (flamingoes)
Telephone books
Blankets
Things that can be purchased at most pet stores:
Kongs
Manufactured parrot toys
Jolly balls
Large catnip cat toys
Any horse toy
For more information contact Margaret Rousser at Margaret@oaklandzoo.org
Monday, December 04, 2006
Roman Catholic Priest Calendar 2007
Click here to order your Calendario Romano 2007 - Roman Priest Calendar 2007
Talk about a nice icon! Is this the Catholic church's new evangelism tool?
Here's a sample:
Talk about a nice icon! Is this the Catholic church's new evangelism tool?
Here's a sample:
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Diversion Magazine - For Physicians at Leisure
Since JL works in magazine publishing I know there is something for everyone. So why was I "shocked" to find thisDiversion Magazine - For Physicians at Leisure while waiting for my doctor yesterday? Wow!
An entire subscription magazine that "features information on travel and other lifestyle subjects, medical meetings, and physician volunteer opportunities. For additional stories on these topics as well as on food, cars, sports, the arts and more, see Diversion magazine, the number one guide to the good life for physicians."
Can't they just read Travel or Sunset or watch Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous. Do they really need their own magazine?
An entire subscription magazine that "features information on travel and other lifestyle subjects, medical meetings, and physician volunteer opportunities. For additional stories on these topics as well as on food, cars, sports, the arts and more, see Diversion magazine, the number one guide to the good life for physicians."
Can't they just read Travel or Sunset or watch Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous. Do they really need their own magazine?
Anchor Steam - Anchor Christmas Ale
Anchor Steam - Anchor Christmas Ale
Run, don't walk, to your local beer seller and buy a few. This is the best recipe they've crafted in years.
I think I need to organize my annual pilgrimage to the brewery.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Holiday Fruit Cake Recipe
Drunk Fruit Cake Recipe
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
6 large eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 cups flour, sifted
1/2 t. salt
1 cup bourbon
1 pound pecans, chopped
3 cups white raisins (or use candied fruit)
1 t. nutmeg
1 large bottle of bourbon whiskey ~
First, sample the whiskey to check for quality.
Assemble all of the ingredients. Check the whiskey again.
To be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink.
Repeat this step.
Turn on the electric mixer and beat one cup of butter in a large
fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar and cream until beat.
Make sure the whiskey is still okay... try another cup.
Turn off the mixer. Beat six leggs and add to the bowl,
then chunk in the cup of dried flut. Mix on the tuner.
Throw in two quarts of flour. Gradually pour in the cow.
Add 2 dried anything.
If the fried druit gets struck in the beaters, pry it loose with
a drewscriver. Sample the whiskey and check it again for tonsistency.
Next, sift two cups of salt. Or something. Who cares???
Check the whiskey again.
Now sift the nutmeg and strain your nuts. Add one table.
And the spoon. Of whiskee. Or something. Whatever you find left.
Grease the oven.
Turn the crake pan to 350 degrees. Don't forget to beat off the turner.
Pour the oven into the batter. Throw the bowl out the window.
Lick the batter off the floor.
Bake 300 minutes at 50 degrees.
Finish the blobble of whishy and flow to bed.
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
6 large eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 cups flour, sifted
1/2 t. salt
1 cup bourbon
1 pound pecans, chopped
3 cups white raisins (or use candied fruit)
1 t. nutmeg
1 large bottle of bourbon whiskey ~
First, sample the whiskey to check for quality.
Assemble all of the ingredients. Check the whiskey again.
To be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink.
Repeat this step.
Turn on the electric mixer and beat one cup of butter in a large
fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar and cream until beat.
Make sure the whiskey is still okay... try another cup.
Turn off the mixer. Beat six leggs and add to the bowl,
then chunk in the cup of dried flut. Mix on the tuner.
Throw in two quarts of flour. Gradually pour in the cow.
Add 2 dried anything.
If the fried druit gets struck in the beaters, pry it loose with
a drewscriver. Sample the whiskey and check it again for tonsistency.
Next, sift two cups of salt. Or something. Who cares???
Check the whiskey again.
Now sift the nutmeg and strain your nuts. Add one table.
And the spoon. Of whiskee. Or something. Whatever you find left.
Grease the oven.
Turn the crake pan to 350 degrees. Don't forget to beat off the turner.
Pour the oven into the batter. Throw the bowl out the window.
Lick the batter off the floor.
Bake 300 minutes at 50 degrees.
Finish the blobble of whishy and flow to bed.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Getting In The Mood
Aside from the usual CBS showing of the claymation christmas classics the following movies must be viewed to get myself into the spirit of the season.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Elf
Love Actually
Home For The Holidays
A Christmas Story
Little Woman (1994)
I hate to say it but the Jimmy Stewart classic: It's A Wonderful Life doesn't do a damn thing for me. I finally saw the show from start to finish within the last 7 years and fell asleep. The only redeeming aspect of the movie was the SNL skit about "lost footage" of the real ending where the towns folk stormed in and killed Mr. Potter.
What movie(s) set your holiday mood?
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Elf
Love Actually
Home For The Holidays
A Christmas Story
Little Woman (1994)
I hate to say it but the Jimmy Stewart classic: It's A Wonderful Life doesn't do a damn thing for me. I finally saw the show from start to finish within the last 7 years and fell asleep. The only redeeming aspect of the movie was the SNL skit about "lost footage" of the real ending where the towns folk stormed in and killed Mr. Potter.
What movie(s) set your holiday mood?
Internet Legend Flashback
Amazon.com: Profile For Henry Raddick: Reviews
I first learned of Henry Raddick a few years ago. Is he real or an urban legend? Will we ever know the truth? Anywhoo - it's a few hours of entertainment. He writes wonderful reviews on Amazon.com products such as:
George W. Bush and His Family Paper Dolls by Tom Tierney
You Can Teach Your Dog to Eliminate on Command by M. L. Smith
The art of sexual lovemaking, a guide to a happier sex-love life for married couples by Frank Samuel Caprio
Understanding Today's Youth Culture: Discussion Guide by Walt Mueller
Astrological Counselling: A Basic Guide to Astrological Themes in Person to Person Understanding by Christina Rose
I first learned of Henry Raddick a few years ago. Is he real or an urban legend? Will we ever know the truth? Anywhoo - it's a few hours of entertainment. He writes wonderful reviews on Amazon.com products such as:
George W. Bush and His Family Paper Dolls by Tom Tierney
You Can Teach Your Dog to Eliminate on Command by M. L. Smith
The art of sexual lovemaking, a guide to a happier sex-love life for married couples by Frank Samuel Caprio
Understanding Today's Youth Culture: Discussion Guide by Walt Mueller
Astrological Counselling: A Basic Guide to Astrological Themes in Person to Person Understanding by Christina Rose
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Ladybugs
Our neighbors have a small infestation of ladybugs in their yard. On a one-on-one basis they are a cute little insect. In the thousands they are kind of creepy!
Three Beasts
I started my Sunday with a chilly AM walk with these three fine hounds. Granite didn't appreciate the love of the 200 lb yellow lab outside of Peet's so we returned to Fuego & The Boy's to warm up.
Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving weekend.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Thanksgiving
Let us give thanks for a bounty of people.
For children who are our second planting, and though they grow like weeds and the wind too soon blows them away, may they forgive us our cultivation and fondly remember where their roots are.
Let us give thanks:
For generous friends…with hearts and smiles as bright as their blossoms;
For feisty friends, as tart as apples;
For continuous friends, who, like scallions and cucumbers, keep reminding us we’ve had them;
For crotchety friends, sour as rhubarb and as indestructible;
For handsome friends, who are as gorgeous as eggplants and as elegant as a row of corn, and the others, as plain as potatoes and so good for you;
For funny friends, who are as silly as Brussels Sprouts and as amusing as Jerusalem Artichokes;
And serious friends as unpretentious as cabbages, as subtle as summer squash, as persistent as parsley, as delightful as dill, as endless as zucchini and who, like parsnips, can be counted on to see you through the winter;
For old friends, nodding like sunflowers in the evening time, and young friends coming on as fast as radishes;
For loving friends, who wind around us like tendrils and hold us, despite our blights, wilts and witherings;
And finally, for those friends now gone, like gardens past that have been harvested, but who fed us in their times that we might have life thereafter.
For all these we give thanks.
Garden Meditation
The Rev. Max Coots
For children who are our second planting, and though they grow like weeds and the wind too soon blows them away, may they forgive us our cultivation and fondly remember where their roots are.
Let us give thanks:
For generous friends…with hearts and smiles as bright as their blossoms;
For feisty friends, as tart as apples;
For continuous friends, who, like scallions and cucumbers, keep reminding us we’ve had them;
For crotchety friends, sour as rhubarb and as indestructible;
For handsome friends, who are as gorgeous as eggplants and as elegant as a row of corn, and the others, as plain as potatoes and so good for you;
For funny friends, who are as silly as Brussels Sprouts and as amusing as Jerusalem Artichokes;
And serious friends as unpretentious as cabbages, as subtle as summer squash, as persistent as parsley, as delightful as dill, as endless as zucchini and who, like parsnips, can be counted on to see you through the winter;
For old friends, nodding like sunflowers in the evening time, and young friends coming on as fast as radishes;
For loving friends, who wind around us like tendrils and hold us, despite our blights, wilts and witherings;
And finally, for those friends now gone, like gardens past that have been harvested, but who fed us in their times that we might have life thereafter.
For all these we give thanks.
Garden Meditation
The Rev. Max Coots
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Hair do or don't?
I'm not sure if this hair style is the best look for sweet little Clay. Does he think it helps him look more masculine? Less gay?
At least he got rid of the freaky kd Lang haircut.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Top 10 Most Racist Commercials
Top 10 Most Racist Commercials
Wow this is quite a collection of youtube clips. Some comercials are decades old but the scarey part is that some are current.
Watch & cringe.
Wow this is quite a collection of youtube clips. Some comercials are decades old but the scarey part is that some are current.
Watch & cringe.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Almost Done!
Unfortunately the pretty new steps accentuate the "ugly" of the rest of the house. Anyone have a winning lottery ticket we can use to reside, repaint, rebuild garage?
Friday, November 03, 2006
A simple song
A song about the pictures found on Flickr. Nice!
The singer, Jonathan Coulton, does a great acoustic version of Baby Got Back.
The singer, Jonathan Coulton, does a great acoustic version of Baby Got Back.
Monday, October 30, 2006
We live in the Top 10!
Ranking of Most, Least Dangerous Cities
By The Associated Press Sunday, October 29, 2006 (10-29) 21:09 PST (AP) --
A list of the safest and most dangerous cities overall, as compiled by Morgan Quitno Press, which bases the rankings on FBI figures released in June. The list starts with the safest cities and ends with the most dangerous.
Only cities that reported crime rates were included in the list. For example, New Orleans was not included this year because its police department did not report figures.
1. Brick, N.J.
2. Amherst, N.Y.
3. Mission Viejo, Calif.
4. Newton, Mass.
5. Troy, Mich.
6. Colonie, N.Y.
7. Irvine, Calif.
8. Cary, N.C.
9. Greece, N.Y.
10. Coral Springs, Fla.
11. Thousand Oaks, Calif.
12. Orem, Utah
13. Round Rock, Texas
14. Dover, N.J.
15. Lake Forest, Calif.
16. Sterling Heights, Mich.
17. Simi Valley, Calif.
18. Roswell, Ga.
19. Lee's Summit, Mo.
20. Broken Arrow, Okla.
21. Chino Hills, Calif.
22. Gilbert, Ariz.
23. Edison, N.J.
24. Cranston, R.I.
25. Port St. Lucie, Fla.
26. Sandy, Uta"
By The Associated Press Sunday, October 29, 2006 (10-29) 21:09 PST (AP) --
A list of the safest and most dangerous cities overall, as compiled by Morgan Quitno Press, which bases the rankings on FBI figures released in June. The list starts with the safest cities and ends with the most dangerous.
Only cities that reported crime rates were included in the list. For example, New Orleans was not included this year because its police department did not report figures.
1. Brick, N.J.
2. Amherst, N.Y.
3. Mission Viejo, Calif.
4. Newton, Mass.
5. Troy, Mich.
6. Colonie, N.Y.
7. Irvine, Calif.
8. Cary, N.C.
9. Greece, N.Y.
10. Coral Springs, Fla.
11. Thousand Oaks, Calif.
12. Orem, Utah
13. Round Rock, Texas
14. Dover, N.J.
15. Lake Forest, Calif.
16. Sterling Heights, Mich.
17. Simi Valley, Calif.
18. Roswell, Ga.
19. Lee's Summit, Mo.
20. Broken Arrow, Okla.
21. Chino Hills, Calif.
22. Gilbert, Ariz.
23. Edison, N.J.
24. Cranston, R.I.
25. Port St. Lucie, Fla.
26. Sandy, Uta"
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Skidboot the Dog on Google Video
Watch this clip about Skidboot. He's quite a dog Video of Skidboot the Dog
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Golden Pumpkin Pie Spice Ale
We finally opened a bottle of the 2006 Pumpkin Ale and it was good. I started with the basic Oak Barrel Golden Ale Ingredient Kit.
6Lbs Liquid Extract
Corn Sugar
Honey Malt
Willamette and Cascade Hops
Safale US-56 Dry Ale Yeast
I replaced the corn sugar above with 2lb of mesquite honey, added one large can of Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin and 2oz Penzy's Pumpkin Pie Spice.
Come on over for a drink!
How Microbrew Can Save the World
AlterNet: How Microbrew Can Save the World: "How Microbrew Can Save the World
By Chris O'Brien, Foreign Policy in Focus. Posted October 25, 2006.
Small-scale, homebrew beer production plays a vital role in sustainable development throughout the world.
The world's cup runneth over with living beer traditions. But this vast repository of cultural brewing capital is under attack by global corporations. The top five brewing companies, all of which are American- or European-owned, control 41 percent of the world market. Perversely, economists and politicians calculate the conquest by industrial breweries as economic growth while the value of small-scale traditional brewing goes uncounted. Much will be lost if this global 'beerodiversity' is lost to the forces of corporate-led homogenization.
The globalization of beer not only destroys the social, spiritual, and health-related benefits of small-scale ho"
By Chris O'Brien, Foreign Policy in Focus. Posted October 25, 2006.
Small-scale, homebrew beer production plays a vital role in sustainable development throughout the world.
The world's cup runneth over with living beer traditions. But this vast repository of cultural brewing capital is under attack by global corporations. The top five brewing companies, all of which are American- or European-owned, control 41 percent of the world market. Perversely, economists and politicians calculate the conquest by industrial breweries as economic growth while the value of small-scale traditional brewing goes uncounted. Much will be lost if this global 'beerodiversity' is lost to the forces of corporate-led homogenization.
The globalization of beer not only destroys the social, spiritual, and health-related benefits of small-scale ho"
Monday, October 16, 2006
The Downside of Home Improvement
The above picture is about 50lbs of organic Oregon raised grass-fed beef. When we came home from work today I noticed that the construction crew had unplugged our freezer. When? Good question! Long enough ago that we had to dump at least 50 lbs of goodness.
If you are interested in seeing the remodel in process here is the online gallery of Construction Photos
We also recently planted our uphill section of land - the land that has been an eyesore for our poor neighbors for years. Over the weekend we came home to this:
Poor plants.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Monday, October 09, 2006
NYC Weekend
We got to spend the weekend with Mason.
He's helping collect the apples.
The night before apple picking we had nose-bleed seats at Yankee Stadium. So sad they got knocked out the the playoffs. Boo hoo.
Yankee Fan
He's helping collect the apples.
The night before apple picking we had nose-bleed seats at Yankee Stadium. So sad they got knocked out the the playoffs. Boo hoo.
Yankee Fan
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Oakland Athletics : AL West Champions
Let's Go Oakland! clap clap clapclapclap
Last Friday night I went to a Yankee's game. Not to see or cheer for the Yankee's, just to see the stadium before they tore it down.
It was nice to see that it's just a ballpark. One big ugly crappy cement ballpark. Nothing fancy inside or out. I will give them credit for good $5 dogs and large $7 beers and especially the "beer man". You don't have to leave your seats for anything. In CA there is no seat delivery of alcohol - lame.
As an A's fan it was also a wonderful feeling to litter the house that Ruth built.
The A's are up 1-0 in the ALDS.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Weight Watchers recipe cards, circa 1974
Click to see the whole collection of Weight Watchers recipe cards, circa 1974
If the picture of the freaky food isn't enough read the commentary.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
The Steve Irwin Memorial Service :: The Courier-Mail
Watch The Steve Irwin Memorial Service
Lots of good things said about the guy. The crocs lost a good mate.
Lots of good things said about the guy. The crocs lost a good mate.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Talk Like A Pirate Day - September 19
The official website for:Talk Like A Pirate Day - September 19
Thanks to Tripp for the lead on this instructional video:
Thanks to Tripp for the lead on this instructional video:
Monday, September 11, 2006
How Quickly Plans Change
For the first time in months we had a mostly unplanned weekend. We've been spending a lot of time being together in the same space but not doing things together with purpose. So on Thursday I made a plan of activities - a date weekend of sorts:
- Friday night we would make dinner and watch a movie.
- Saturday we'd meet with a contractor to get a second bid, attend an apple festival buy fresh juice so I could brew hard cider, shop Target for garage storage solutions, I'd leave Jane for a few hours to go play soccer, home for dinner.
- Sunday I had an AM meeeting before church then I'd return home to shop Home Depot for plants, we'd garden, Jane would cook dinner. We'd relax and enjoy the fun we'd had.
What actually happened:
- Friday night we had dinner & watched TV.
- Saturday the contractor came & left, we smelled gas - called PG&E, waited around for PG&E to come fix gas leak, fielded panic phone calls from my mother who demanded we call 911 - we never did, I left the house for a few hours to distract Katie so Kath could rest (she's got some pregnancy illness that gives her vertigo), I shopped, returned home in time to change for soccer, went to Cato's for drinks & dinner after game (Jane joined us), home to sleep.
- Sunday went as planned with a few extra activities thrown in (see Jane's blog for details)
All in all it was a good weekend. Lots of stuff done. Lots of relaxation & good time spent with people who needed it.
I also learned that 4yr old Katie is a shoe whore and understands shopping manipulation. Most repeated statement of Sat "but I want shooooooooooooes"
- Friday night we would make dinner and watch a movie.
- Saturday we'd meet with a contractor to get a second bid, attend an apple festival buy fresh juice so I could brew hard cider, shop Target for garage storage solutions, I'd leave Jane for a few hours to go play soccer, home for dinner.
- Sunday I had an AM meeeting before church then I'd return home to shop Home Depot for plants, we'd garden, Jane would cook dinner. We'd relax and enjoy the fun we'd had.
What actually happened:
- Friday night we had dinner & watched TV.
- Saturday the contractor came & left, we smelled gas - called PG&E, waited around for PG&E to come fix gas leak, fielded panic phone calls from my mother who demanded we call 911 - we never did, I left the house for a few hours to distract Katie so Kath could rest (she's got some pregnancy illness that gives her vertigo), I shopped, returned home in time to change for soccer, went to Cato's for drinks & dinner after game (Jane joined us), home to sleep.
- Sunday went as planned with a few extra activities thrown in (see Jane's blog for details)
All in all it was a good weekend. Lots of stuff done. Lots of relaxation & good time spent with people who needed it.
I also learned that 4yr old Katie is a shoe whore and understands shopping manipulation. Most repeated statement of Sat "but I want shooooooooooooes"
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
What's Cookin, Good Lookin'?
We've posted a few new recipes on our other blog: What's Cookin, Good Lookin'? Enjoy
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Monday, August 28, 2006
Common Errors in English
I was raised by parents who would visibly cringe when a word was misused. They will enjoy this website: Common Errors in English
Friday, August 25, 2006
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Monday, August 21, 2006
What a story
Watch the videos at the end.
[From Sports Illustrated, By Rick Reilly]
I try to be a good father. Give my kids mulligans. Work nights to pay for their text messaging. Take them to swimsuit shoots. But compared with Dick Hoyt, I suck.
Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.
Dick's also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. on a bike. Makes taking your son bowling look a little lame, right?
And what has Rick done for his father? Not much--except save his life.
This love story began in Winchester, Mass., 43 years ago, when Rick was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs. ``He'll be a vegetable the rest of his life;'' Dick says doctors told him and his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. ``Put him in an institution.''
But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was anything to help the boy communicate. ``No way,'' Dick says he was told.
``There's nothing going on in his brain.''
"Tell him a joke,'' Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a lot was going on in his brain. Rigged up with a computer that allowed him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? ``Go Bruins!'' And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the school organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, ``Dad, I want to do that.''
Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described ``porker'' who never ran more than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he tried. ``Then it was me who was handicapped,'' Dick says. ``I was sore for two weeks.''
That day changed Rick's life. ``Dad,'' he typed, ``when we were running, it felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!'' And that sentence changed Dick's life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon.
``No way,'' Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren't quite a single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor. For a few years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, then they found a way to get into the race officially: In 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the qualifying time for Boston the following year.
Then somebody said, ``Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?'' How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick tried.
Now they've done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour Ironmans in Hawaii. It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don't you think?
Hey, Dick, why not see how you'd do on your own? ``No way,'' he says. Dick does it purely for ``the awesome feeling'' he gets seeing Rick with a cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.
This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best time'? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992--only 35 minutes off the world record, which, in case you don't keep track of these things, happens to be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the time.
``No question about it,'' Rick types. ``My dad is the Father of the Century.''
And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had a mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries was 95% clogged. ``If you hadn't been in such great shape,'' one doctor told him, ``you probably would've died 15 years ago.''
So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other's life.
Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and works in Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland, Mass., always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father's Day.
That night, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really wants to give him is a gift he can never buy.
``The thing I'd most like,'' Rick types, ``is that my dad would sit in the chair and I would push him once.''
[From Sports Illustrated, By Rick Reilly]
I try to be a good father. Give my kids mulligans. Work nights to pay for their text messaging. Take them to swimsuit shoots. But compared with Dick Hoyt, I suck.
Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.
Dick's also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. on a bike. Makes taking your son bowling look a little lame, right?
And what has Rick done for his father? Not much--except save his life.
This love story began in Winchester, Mass., 43 years ago, when Rick was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs. ``He'll be a vegetable the rest of his life;'' Dick says doctors told him and his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. ``Put him in an institution.''
But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was anything to help the boy communicate. ``No way,'' Dick says he was told.
``There's nothing going on in his brain.''
"Tell him a joke,'' Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a lot was going on in his brain. Rigged up with a computer that allowed him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? ``Go Bruins!'' And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the school organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, ``Dad, I want to do that.''
Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described ``porker'' who never ran more than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he tried. ``Then it was me who was handicapped,'' Dick says. ``I was sore for two weeks.''
That day changed Rick's life. ``Dad,'' he typed, ``when we were running, it felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!'' And that sentence changed Dick's life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon.
``No way,'' Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren't quite a single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor. For a few years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, then they found a way to get into the race officially: In 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the qualifying time for Boston the following year.
Then somebody said, ``Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?'' How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick tried.
Now they've done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour Ironmans in Hawaii. It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don't you think?
Hey, Dick, why not see how you'd do on your own? ``No way,'' he says. Dick does it purely for ``the awesome feeling'' he gets seeing Rick with a cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.
This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best time'? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992--only 35 minutes off the world record, which, in case you don't keep track of these things, happens to be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the time.
``No question about it,'' Rick types. ``My dad is the Father of the Century.''
And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had a mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries was 95% clogged. ``If you hadn't been in such great shape,'' one doctor told him, ``you probably would've died 15 years ago.''
So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other's life.
Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and works in Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland, Mass., always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father's Day.
That night, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really wants to give him is a gift he can never buy.
``The thing I'd most like,'' Rick types, ``is that my dad would sit in the chair and I would push him once.''
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Friday, August 18, 2006
K-9 Chaplains!
When I was in Camp Biloxi earlier this month I found an article about this great ministry
K-9 chaplains who go into the heart of a disaster to help heal the hearts of those hit hardest.
Check them out and if you have a few dollars to throw their way I'm sure they could use the support.
Here is a link to an article from FEMA about the program too: http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=25478
K-9 chaplains who go into the heart of a disaster to help heal the hearts of those hit hardest.
Check them out and if you have a few dollars to throw their way I'm sure they could use the support.
Here is a link to an article from FEMA about the program too: http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=25478
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Beautiful Words
GodSquad on Mission
From July 30-Aug 10 I was blessed to spend 24/7 with some of the most amazing teen-agers. They traveled, played, worked, sang and shared their lives with the people of the Gulf Coast. For 10 days they gave from their heart to help rebuild the homes and lives of those hit by hurricane Katrina. When they returned home they preached to their congregations about what they saw and what they did on their journey. If you'd like a glimpse into the heart of a teen-ager click on the above link to hear their stories. These kids amaze me. (more sermons to come as the churches get the drafts from their youth)
From July 30-Aug 10 I was blessed to spend 24/7 with some of the most amazing teen-agers. They traveled, played, worked, sang and shared their lives with the people of the Gulf Coast. For 10 days they gave from their heart to help rebuild the homes and lives of those hit by hurricane Katrina. When they returned home they preached to their congregations about what they saw and what they did on their journey. If you'd like a glimpse into the heart of a teen-ager click on the above link to hear their stories. These kids amaze me. (more sermons to come as the churches get the drafts from their youth)
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Time To Brew
I haven't brewed a batch in a while. What should I make? A general drinking ale... a seasonal for the fall (or halloween)... experiment with options for Christmas? What to do?
Friday, August 11, 2006
Gulf Coast Mission Trip Slideshow
If you are interested in the trip I just took: Gulf Coast Mission Tip Pictures
Most of my shots are of people rather than places.
Most of my shots are of people rather than places.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
The Best Meal Of My Life
Ms Petra, the chef at St. James Church in Jackson, prepared the most amazing meal I've ever had. Fried Chicken, butter beans, black eyed peas, mac & cheese, green salad, banana pudding (with Nilla Wafers, sweet tea and lemonade and huge choc. chip cookies. WOW. If I could have fit in thirds I would have gone back for more.
The trip was great and I'm still in recovery (physically & emotionally). More to come.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Puppy 2
Granite graduated from Puppy 2 last week. Here is a picture of her graduating class and of her favorite classmate, Sprout (chihuahua / jack russel)
Friday, July 28, 2006
Protest Songs
LIVING WITH WAR TODAY
Click on the link above and select If You Tell A Lie - Blame Sally to watch the video of their war protest song for GWB.
Blame Sally is a local Bay Area band that could use your support.
Click on the link above and select If You Tell A Lie - Blame Sally to watch the video of their war protest song for GWB.
Blame Sally is a local Bay Area band that could use your support.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Site title says it all
For my readers who enjoy crafting I give you: Tampon Crafts
Enjoy.
funny side note: I contribute to several blogs and I accidentally posted this to my church youth group blog. Woops
Enjoy.
funny side note: I contribute to several blogs and I accidentally posted this to my church youth group blog. Woops
Monday, July 24, 2006
Local Weather Oakland, CA
Local Weather Forecast for Oakland, CA (94611) - weather.com: "90°F
Feels Like
91°F"
I'm not sure what I'm complaining about. In a week I head to the Gulf Coast for 10 days of 89-90 degree weather 77% humidity & scattered thunderstorms.
I sure know how to vacation. If you want to follow my trip check out this blog
Feels Like
91°F"
I'm not sure what I'm complaining about. In a week I head to the Gulf Coast for 10 days of 89-90 degree weather 77% humidity & scattered thunderstorms.
I sure know how to vacation. If you want to follow my trip check out this blog
Friday, July 21, 2006
Natural Handmade Soap
A few years ago while visiting my cousin in North Carolina we stopped by the local farmer's market and I feel in love with home-made goat milk soap from Three Waters Farm . Whenever I go back to NC I make sure to pick up a few bars. It smells good, cleans well, is gentle on the skin, and supports the little people.
If you don't want goat milk soap here is another place to buy inexpensive natural handmade soap
I thought about taking up the hobby of soap making but homebrewing beer is so much more my style. I'll pay a few bucks for the little bar of soap... bar of soap that will slippy and slidey or everybodies heiney... and continue to enjoy my beer.
Someday when I have my own goats I'll have to find a use for all their milk.
If you don't want goat milk soap here is another place to buy inexpensive natural handmade soap
I thought about taking up the hobby of soap making but homebrewing beer is so much more my style. I'll pay a few bucks for the little bar of soap... bar of soap that will slippy and slidey or everybodies heiney... and continue to enjoy my beer.
Someday when I have my own goats I'll have to find a use for all their milk.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Some Clarity on Net Neutrality
If you've been confused by the debate about potential legislation on net neutrality this video brings it all into focus...
Unfortunately I fear this is what my dad would say if you asked him to explain it.
Here's a DJ remix of the instantly famous speech:
Unfortunately I fear this is what my dad would say if you asked him to explain it.
Here's a DJ remix of the instantly famous speech:
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
The Shape of a Mother
The Shape of a Mother
Usually when you bring up the topic of pregnancy Jane says "EW!" or "GROSS" or puts her fingers in her ears and sings "LALALLALALALA" If she wasn't freaked out enough about pregnancy before this website will certainly send her running for the hills. This blog is mostly after pictures & stories from various women writing about how pregnancy changes the shape of their bodies.
The belly above hosts twins. WOW!
Awesome Care
More reasons to love our vet...
1) I got a voicemail yesterday from our fav. Dr to check up on our ER vet visit. We didn't tell them we went, they just responded to the ER daily report.
2) When I called back to let them know all was OK the receptionist remembered Otis and said - "oh, you guys had the best dog in the whole world"
The front office staff remembers the beasts and shows them affection. The medical staff is responsive & proactive. They rock.
1) I got a voicemail yesterday from our fav. Dr to check up on our ER vet visit. We didn't tell them we went, they just responded to the ER daily report.
2) When I called back to let them know all was OK the receptionist remembered Otis and said - "oh, you guys had the best dog in the whole world"
The front office staff remembers the beasts and shows them affection. The medical staff is responsive & proactive. They rock.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Friday, July 14, 2006
Potty Humor
Japanese toilet training cartoons:
When it comes to talking about bodily functions, the Japanese are pretty open. It is not uncommon to hear friends and coworkers having conversations about consptipation, diaherria and other bowel movement-related topics. Judging from these cartoons I found on youtube, toilet training is also something that is embraced without embarassment
Beware Mr. Hanky!
When it comes to talking about bodily functions, the Japanese are pretty open. It is not uncommon to hear friends and coworkers having conversations about consptipation, diaherria and other bowel movement-related topics. Judging from these cartoons I found on youtube, toilet training is also something that is embraced without embarassment
Beware Mr. Hanky!
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