Saturday, November 21, 2009

If I could just get the voices to take turns...



Meet my Grandaughter Emily, she is a crack-up.

Last summer we took a car trip to Crater Lake Oregon. It was a fabulous adventure that went from hot weather in Redmond, to so cold, that we couldn't be out of the car very long.

On the way Emily decided to take a few self portraits. Here are the results, enjoy.

I was originaly going to do a "name this photo contest", but they were all to delicious not to share them all. So pick a favorite, and name that one.



Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Happy Birthday To Me!

I was born on September 26, 1955.

I have experienced events in history, that are now only taught in school as history lessons.

I was 8 years old when Kennedy was shot.
I was 14 when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon.
I was 17 when Watergate happened.
I was 25 when John Lenon was shot.
I was 32 when the Berlin Wall was torn down.

There have also been dramatic changes in technology.

I have chosen 4 catagories to show the some of the changes of everday devices in our lives. They are cars, television, computers, and phones.


1955

1965

1975

1985

1995

2005

2009



See you next year!

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Drive In Movie!


Raise your hand if you have never been to a drive in movie. I thought so. There is still 1 theater left, it's the 99W Drive-in Movie in Newberg OR.


The place was packed! We parked our truck backwards, put pillows and blankets down and made a little nest. I was glad we had arrived early enough to get a pretty good spot.

We walked up front before the movie started to see what was going on. There were tons of kids throwing frisbes and balls. Families with balnkets playing board games. There were people walking there dogs and a guy had an awesome RC car that zooming up and down the lot.

I can't wait to take my other gkids.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Fastest Chip in the Galaxy!

You know how people see shapes in clouds? Well, I see things in things everywhere.Did you read my post on seeing Shaggy in a pool of oil and balsamic vinegar? Well, I've had another vision...Remember the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars? While working on a document for work, I was eating potato chips to keep me focused on the task at hand. I absentmindedly pulled one from the bag, while still staring at the screen, it came into view from my peripheral vision and what I "saw" was this.


It's a curse really...

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Note to self,



We are regular users of the product Gummy Vites at our home. I feel they are a good source of vitamins and fun as well.

I don't usually do the buying, but I had a coupon so I picked one up. But like most men, I made my selection based on the brand picture instead of reading the label. Yes, apparently there are different varieties and I got the wrong type. This one is a brain type with Omega whatevers, and I wanted the basics. You know like, C-D-E-A, the usual players.

I decided to return it and get the one I really wanted. But I found out something that maybe you knew but was news to me.

Gummy Vites left in your car with the windows up on a 95 degree day melt into a single, multi-colored, Vite.

Who knew...

So my note to self is; when going on vacation this year, don't buy gummy bears for the trip. Pass on this valuable info to friends and family.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Let's Play!

Remember the good old days? Do you have an older relative that says things like, "When I was your age we used to make our own toys!"

Well here are a couple of "things" we played with when I was little.

First, and probably one of my favorite toys we made, was from an old hand crank telephone.

Did you know that inside these old phones is a magical device called a magneto. I think they are called that because it is a combination of two words (mag)ic and (neet)o! It's even fun to say, try it, I'll wait....

My older brother, he was 6 at the time, I was 5, discovered that the magneto was removable from the wooden box. The magneto has two wires coming off of it and of course the crank. The funny thing about magnetos is, they produce electricity. If you hold on to the wires while someone cranks it you get an nice little shock! So our little playmates would come over and we would pull the magneto out of our toy box and "play". First everyone sat in a circle holding hands. The kids on the ends each held on to one of the wires. Another kid sat with the magneto on the floor and cranked it as fast as he could and the electric current would pass through everyone. This lasted as long as you could stand to hold on. The only rule was,you could not have a turn at the crank unless you were willing to sit in the circle. I didn't know it at the time but these old magnetos can produce anywhere from 6 to 110 volts! Shocking isn't it!

Here is another one that we played with from time to time.
I know what you're thinkin'! Kids playin' doctor! Not exactly, you see this is an old thermometer, that means it has the magical liquid known as mercury. It was a rare treat whenever a thermometer was accidentally broken. Dad would hold onto the the broken tube to warm it so the mercury would rise out the broken end. He would collect it in a small dish and give it to us to play with. We used to sit on the front porch and play with the silver liquid. Breaking it into smaller globs, then coaxing them back into one shining mass. This would last until it would roll off the porch into the dirt or between the porch boards. Thanks Dad!

Anyone want to schedule a play date? I just got a brand new set of steak knives!!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Go Green!



A very, very,very, long time ago, I received a shaving mug as a white elephant gift. It seemed like a great gag gift at the time. I put it into the cupboard, and forgot about it. Until my can of shaving cream ran out. So, in desperation I opened the mug, installed the little cake of soap, swirlled the brush...I was hooked. Not only does the brush feel good on the skin, but the soap is warm. The longer you work it into the skin, the creamier it gets. As time marched on, the little cake just kept on making soap, for a couple of years. It finally deminished to the point of needing replacing.

I was sure I wouldn't be able to find any more.
But to my surprise, in the old guy section of the corner drug store, I think it was Payless or Rite aid, there was my old friend. It even gave me the option of a whole kit, (mug and brush and soap cake) or just the cake. I think it was under 3 bucks for just the soap cake. It just dawned on me the other day that not only is the cost about 1/4 that of buying a can of shave cream, but it is also better for the enviroment. There is no can or aerosols, just a little cardboard box about 2 inches square.

Let's review:

Saves money.
Better for the environment.
Nice and warm lather.

Try it?

PS: Don't use the old straight razor! Ask me how I know...