What is the deal with the Royals
and their odd love of
Outlandish Hats ?
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Narcissus, Op. 13, No. 4
When we got the player piano, we got more than 100 rolls of 1900-1930 music. Here is a sample of
one of those songs:
Narcissus Op.13, No. 4.
If you will close your eyes, and imagine that you've gone back in time, to 1910-ish,
you may find this song utterly charming.
one of those songs:
Narcissus Op.13, No. 4.
If you will close your eyes, and imagine that you've gone back in time, to 1910-ish,
you may find this song utterly charming.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
April 28th Snow!
I LOVE it!
It's the end of April and we have just dropped a 1/2 inch of snow in the last 15 minutes!
What a DAY!
It's awesome!
:oD
It's the end of April and we have just dropped a 1/2 inch of snow in the last 15 minutes!
What a DAY!
It's awesome!
:oD
New Things!
1). I think we may get another house guest! A friend of Scout and Kenz may be coming to stay
with us for a while in the Japanese room. Who knows...maybe she will come to stay long term! :oD
2).I have new love: Netflix!
3). I may have found a new fun place to shoot portraits. A hidden ravine/dump in the back end of Madras. I can't wait to hike the ravine and the abandoned railroad to see whats there.
4). And piggy-backing on #3, it will soon be spring (ever so briefly May 3ish thru May 20ish) on the Central Oregon High Desert. This means we will go back down into the canyon and shoot the caves in spring time.
with us for a while in the Japanese room. Who knows...maybe she will come to stay long term! :oD
2).I have new love: Netflix!
3). I may have found a new fun place to shoot portraits. A hidden ravine/dump in the back end of Madras. I can't wait to hike the ravine and the abandoned railroad to see whats there.
4). And piggy-backing on #3, it will soon be spring (ever so briefly May 3ish thru May 20ish) on the Central Oregon High Desert. This means we will go back down into the canyon and shoot the caves in spring time.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Desperately Seeking Midwest Food
So now there are traces of radiation showing up in milk along the pacific NW Coast and even trackably as far inland as Spokane - although that was from one report - and has been poo-pooed by grocers and others locally.
I am not taking any more chances.
Normally, I feed my family locally.
Not now.
Milk-I have started buying in powdered form from a big chain such as WalMart where the likely hood that its been-
A). sitting on the shelf for a while and
B). come from an inland source
gives me a little better protection from the Pacific radioactive goodness.
If push comes to shove, I would buy Soy Milk as Soybeans (I think) come from the midwest and the south.)
Cheese - I buy an off brand that has likely come from inland or the midwest.
Fruit is a quandry:
-South American and Mexican produce is available, but they are also pacific coast nations.
Hmmmm....what to do about that.
Buy off brand frozen berries and canned fruits that have more likely come from the midwest and south?
Meat - I gotta buy inland...so that means a big chain maybe like Costco or Walmart that pull product from outside of my region. The worry there is that they bring in seafood from China etc. So I will have to find a seafood supplier who is Atlantic.
Heh! And I thought crafting a menu plan for pre-diabetes was tricky!
I am not taking any more chances.
Normally, I feed my family locally.
Not now.
Milk-I have started buying in powdered form from a big chain such as WalMart where the likely hood that its been-
A). sitting on the shelf for a while and
B). come from an inland source
gives me a little better protection from the Pacific radioactive goodness.
If push comes to shove, I would buy Soy Milk as Soybeans (I think) come from the midwest and the south.)
Cheese - I buy an off brand that has likely come from inland or the midwest.
Fruit is a quandry:
-South American and Mexican produce is available, but they are also pacific coast nations.
Hmmmm....what to do about that.
Buy off brand frozen berries and canned fruits that have more likely come from the midwest and south?
Meat - I gotta buy inland...so that means a big chain maybe like Costco or Walmart that pull product from outside of my region. The worry there is that they bring in seafood from China etc. So I will have to find a seafood supplier who is Atlantic.
Heh! And I thought crafting a menu plan for pre-diabetes was tricky!
Monday, April 25, 2011
ugh!
I love you so.
I lay awake at night, thinking of ways to offer you
choices by which you might fly, in the own trueness
of yourself, as God has made you alone to be.
I pull my heart out of my chest and divide it into
pieces in case some of them might give you a leg up,
as stepping stones, that you may see your own
wonderfulness, and that you are appreciated.
You pull out the baseball bat.
You club me over and over and over again.
The bleeding, pulsating remnants of my being
lie on the ground. oozing what life might be there.
Hoping it will leak, in a trail, to your feet...and some
how, impart encouragement to be you.
Sometimes...
I get REALLY tired.
And wish for death.
But that is not my call.
I lay awake at night, thinking of ways to offer you
choices by which you might fly, in the own trueness
of yourself, as God has made you alone to be.
I pull my heart out of my chest and divide it into
pieces in case some of them might give you a leg up,
as stepping stones, that you may see your own
wonderfulness, and that you are appreciated.
You pull out the baseball bat.
You club me over and over and over again.
The bleeding, pulsating remnants of my being
lie on the ground. oozing what life might be there.
Hoping it will leak, in a trail, to your feet...and some
how, impart encouragement to be you.
Sometimes...
I get REALLY tired.
And wish for death.
But that is not my call.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
1 Day can make all the difference in a life.
And for me, it is this day.
If it were not for THIS day:
-I would have a mess of a life.
-I would have no children.
-I would have no hope.
-I would have no life.
If I were the only human being, throughout the entire history of
man's existence, who was ever imperfect, God Himself STILL
would have come and endured all that He has, in order to provide
a way for me to avoid the eternal penalties for my choices
(aka damnation), and to have a sane, family-filled, hopeful life
that will last for all eternity.
I am not perfect.
I am in desperate need of forgiveness, (because I do
and say stupid things every single day whether
I want to or not) and I need a Saviour who
can change me starting with the inside first.
I can not perfect myself.
When it all boils down, I am truly rich.
Whether my earthly possessions reflect it or not.
No matter what, I will always have Him and His life.
No matter what else I appear to have, I really have
nothing else.
And I am good with it.
Dear God,
Thank you for You.
If it were not for THIS day:
-I would have a mess of a life.
-I would have no children.
-I would have no hope.
-I would have no life.
If I were the only human being, throughout the entire history of
man's existence, who was ever imperfect, God Himself STILL
would have come and endured all that He has, in order to provide
a way for me to avoid the eternal penalties for my choices
(aka damnation), and to have a sane, family-filled, hopeful life
that will last for all eternity.
I am not perfect.
I am in desperate need of forgiveness, (because I do
and say stupid things every single day whether
I want to or not) and I need a Saviour who
can change me starting with the inside first.
I can not perfect myself.
When it all boils down, I am truly rich.
Whether my earthly possessions reflect it or not.
No matter what, I will always have Him and His life.
No matter what else I appear to have, I really have
nothing else.
And I am good with it.
Dear God,
Thank you for You.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Cleaned out the Garage
I should have taken a photo BEFORE I started.
Scout came in from extricating her bi-fold closet doors from the mess that was the garage.
"Mom, it's a hazard out there", says she.
So yesterday I tackled it.
The BEFORE pic would have shown no floor space, as one was forced to walk ON TOP of everything in there including but not limited to camping gear, broken jars, various tools, an old ripped blue piece of tarp clothing, boots, mis-matched shoes, sports equipment, and other unmentionables.
In any case, the debacle that was, has now been tamed to this:
The front half of the garage:
And the back of the garage is the "Cube" aka the "Boy Lair" that my son and his friends inhabit when he comes home to visit:
Last night I was in SO much pain I could not do a thing. I actually resorted to taking a
Flexeril - which I do not like. I don't even like to take Tylenol or Ibuprofen. I don't like pain meds. The main reason for my pain, I believe, is due to moving the "Golden-Food-Bot" (shown below) from its entombed state within the bowels of the garage, up onto this dolley, almost singlehandedly. (Scout helped by holding the dolley in place while I lifted, scooted and pushed the Food Bot into its place.)
"I have been spray painted with metallic gold paint."
Today is only a marginal improvement, as I still had "loose end" tasks to complete in the aftermath of this grand clean out.
Tomorrow is Easter.
I will rest between cooking tasks.
Scout came in from extricating her bi-fold closet doors from the mess that was the garage.
"Mom, it's a hazard out there", says she.
So yesterday I tackled it.
The BEFORE pic would have shown no floor space, as one was forced to walk ON TOP of everything in there including but not limited to camping gear, broken jars, various tools, an old ripped blue piece of tarp clothing, boots, mis-matched shoes, sports equipment, and other unmentionables.
In any case, the debacle that was, has now been tamed to this:
The front half of the garage:
And the back of the garage is the "Cube" aka the "Boy Lair" that my son and his friends inhabit when he comes home to visit:
Last night I was in SO much pain I could not do a thing. I actually resorted to taking a
Flexeril - which I do not like. I don't even like to take Tylenol or Ibuprofen. I don't like pain meds. The main reason for my pain, I believe, is due to moving the "Golden-Food-Bot" (shown below) from its entombed state within the bowels of the garage, up onto this dolley, almost singlehandedly. (Scout helped by holding the dolley in place while I lifted, scooted and pushed the Food Bot into its place.)
"I have been spray painted with metallic gold paint."
Today is only a marginal improvement, as I still had "loose end" tasks to complete in the aftermath of this grand clean out.
Tomorrow is Easter.
I will rest between cooking tasks.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Dear Inhaler, where are you?
ok so after a 4 day trial, hoping that my asthma might be an aberration on my part, I have come to recognize that it would behoove me to invest some man hours seeking out my errant inhaler.
Is drawing a breath a privilege or a right.
No matter, it is def a necessity, if one is to continue pondering that concept.
Is drawing a breath a privilege or a right.
No matter, it is def a necessity, if one is to continue pondering that concept.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
2 Month Slap?
Ugh!
You know it's been a fair two months since I deleted my facebook account.
I sincerely do NOT regret it, and yet there are moments, when I wish I could just reach
out and blab and see what others are blabbing about...
and yet I know that..for me...it's not a good thing.
Suffice to say, I miss MANY awesome knuckleheads (who know who they are (tm)). ;o)
You know it's been a fair two months since I deleted my facebook account.
I sincerely do NOT regret it, and yet there are moments, when I wish I could just reach
out and blab and see what others are blabbing about...
and yet I know that..for me...it's not a good thing.
Suffice to say, I miss MANY awesome knuckleheads (who know who they are (tm)). ;o)
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
How was it that more of my posts from several years ago seemed (at least to me) to be FAR more amusing than my posts of today?
What is different?
Am I still me?
Apparently, back when I was at "my most pithy" was when I was working full time, as an executive secretary. Surrounded by people 8.5 hours a day, and subjected to the crazy whims of an elite commercial real estate developer boss, I seemed more able to gain access to a sense of the absurd.
Maybe it was the fact that I was inescapably surrounded by human beings, and had ample fodder for ridiculous commentary?
Perhaps it was that my direct supervisor, Donna Kightlinger, possessed a razor sharp mind, wit and quick tongue, and her witty repartee propelled my own creativity?
Frankly I think the latter, combined with a sprinkling of the former, was to blame. Also, the fact tha I have become old, dismal, hermit-like, and take care of an elderly old coot who makes me crazy, and then of course, I also care for my elderly dad. ;o)
I suppose these things suck the creative spirit right out of me.
:o)
Anyway. I hoep that by barfing out a plethora of words on a daily basis will remedy the situation and perhaps I will find my old humour again.
I know it lives.
I see it every day in my kids - not that their humour is mine, but I see glimpses of myself in them and it inspires me to accept myself more.
What is different?
Am I still me?
Apparently, back when I was at "my most pithy" was when I was working full time, as an executive secretary. Surrounded by people 8.5 hours a day, and subjected to the crazy whims of an elite commercial real estate developer boss, I seemed more able to gain access to a sense of the absurd.
Maybe it was the fact that I was inescapably surrounded by human beings, and had ample fodder for ridiculous commentary?
Perhaps it was that my direct supervisor, Donna Kightlinger, possessed a razor sharp mind, wit and quick tongue, and her witty repartee propelled my own creativity?
Frankly I think the latter, combined with a sprinkling of the former, was to blame. Also, the fact tha I have become old, dismal, hermit-like, and take care of an elderly old coot who makes me crazy, and then of course, I also care for my elderly dad. ;o)
I suppose these things suck the creative spirit right out of me.
:o)
Anyway. I hoep that by barfing out a plethora of words on a daily basis will remedy the situation and perhaps I will find my old humour again.
I know it lives.
I see it every day in my kids - not that their humour is mine, but I see glimpses of myself in them and it inspires me to accept myself more.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Scout Discovers Time Machine
Ok well this did not happen today, but several years ago.
At the time, it was such an "out of the blue" genius thing for a 12 year old to say, that I blogged it.
This is one of the things I found while reading the old blog posts this morning.
It is right HERE.
At the time, it was such an "out of the blue" genius thing for a 12 year old to say, that I blogged it.
This is one of the things I found while reading the old blog posts this morning.
It is right HERE.
Started Reading Backwards
So on a whim this morning while I was waiting for my coffee to be ready, I took a peak at some blog stats and then...clicked the last link on the Past Blog Posts Archive list. It started off in the winter of 2004 when the site was called "Blog Biscuit."
It was kinda fun to look back nostalgically and read some of the the goofy-funny bits as well as some of the difficult times surrounding Mysteria plannings and play productions and kid stuff. Of the time when Donna and I used to prank each other at the office, and plot pranks for Dan - which we never carried out of course, the time Donna suggested the Frozen Turkey Purse solution, and the locating of a second time machine/portal in the house. (The first one was found by Scout and turned out to be the Microwave.)
Sometimes it is really good to look back.
And remind ones self.
It was kinda fun to look back nostalgically and read some of the the goofy-funny bits as well as some of the difficult times surrounding Mysteria plannings and play productions and kid stuff. Of the time when Donna and I used to prank each other at the office, and plot pranks for Dan - which we never carried out of course, the time Donna suggested the Frozen Turkey Purse solution, and the locating of a second time machine/portal in the house. (The first one was found by Scout and turned out to be the Microwave.)
Sometimes it is really good to look back.
And remind ones self.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Bad Fridge Update
by Scout
by Blake, James and Jeremy
an abuse of the original above, by Blake, James and Jeremy
by Blake, James and Jeremy.And Mih
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Game Lounge Still Lives Thanks to Video Surveillance Cameras!
I think I may have gained the upper hand on this horrific respiratory thing!
Finally!
Just in time to volunteer some hours at the Game Lounge.
A friend of mine, who already runs a perfectly good business servicing computers, started up a second business - a game lounge.
Our town desperately needs this game lounge.
In a town with a population of less than 2000, there are not so many options for entertainment during the winter months especially. Our kids NEED something to DO rather than drugs and vandalism and generally getting into trouble.
So the # Peaks Game Lounge opened Christmas break. They charge $5 per hour to play games (inlcuding use of the pool table), and if you just want to come in and hang out and "lounge" around watching without playing, then you only have to pay $1 cover charge. $20 gets you in for an entire day of game play. Since that 1st day they have barely made a dime, even though there is almost ALWAYs someone there. Well, with the potential of permanent closure looming April 1st, my friend decided to watch the video security cam tapes.
Lo and behold, he discovered he was being robbed. On a daily basis! The responsible parties were arrested and jailed, but that didn't solve the problem of the deep financial hole in which the game lounge came to rest. Permanent closure still appeared to be looming on the horizon. Local parents were appalled and students and parents alike came forward to volunteer man hours in order to keep the game lounge running and allow it to recupe some of its losses.
The beauty of the security camera's allows there to be no argument as to blame no matter what is going on at any given time 24-7. For security, I am SOLD on video surveillance. It was all there in glorious black and white. No question. It was obvious who the guilty parties were, and due to the multiple angles of all the cameras there was no way a person could turn their body to hide or shield what they were doing.
Video security ROCKS!
So anyway... today is my day to volunteer. Actually, Thursday night was also my day to volunteer but I didn't figure he wanted me in there with a raging fever so my friend went in instead.
There is renewed hope for the game lounge in Sisters.
It's pretty cool.
Maybe I will take some photos of the interior tonight so you can see how warm and homey it is in there.
Finally!
Just in time to volunteer some hours at the Game Lounge.
A friend of mine, who already runs a perfectly good business servicing computers, started up a second business - a game lounge.
Our town desperately needs this game lounge.
In a town with a population of less than 2000, there are not so many options for entertainment during the winter months especially. Our kids NEED something to DO rather than drugs and vandalism and generally getting into trouble.
So the # Peaks Game Lounge opened Christmas break. They charge $5 per hour to play games (inlcuding use of the pool table), and if you just want to come in and hang out and "lounge" around watching without playing, then you only have to pay $1 cover charge. $20 gets you in for an entire day of game play. Since that 1st day they have barely made a dime, even though there is almost ALWAYs someone there. Well, with the potential of permanent closure looming April 1st, my friend decided to watch the video security cam tapes.
Lo and behold, he discovered he was being robbed. On a daily basis! The responsible parties were arrested and jailed, but that didn't solve the problem of the deep financial hole in which the game lounge came to rest. Permanent closure still appeared to be looming on the horizon. Local parents were appalled and students and parents alike came forward to volunteer man hours in order to keep the game lounge running and allow it to recupe some of its losses.
The beauty of the security camera's allows there to be no argument as to blame no matter what is going on at any given time 24-7. For security, I am SOLD on video surveillance. It was all there in glorious black and white. No question. It was obvious who the guilty parties were, and due to the multiple angles of all the cameras there was no way a person could turn their body to hide or shield what they were doing.
Video security ROCKS!
So anyway... today is my day to volunteer. Actually, Thursday night was also my day to volunteer but I didn't figure he wanted me in there with a raging fever so my friend went in instead.
There is renewed hope for the game lounge in Sisters.
It's pretty cool.
Maybe I will take some photos of the interior tonight so you can see how warm and homey it is in there.
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