Well, we've just finished up with an extended Christmas celebration here at home. It started with a holiday from the office beginning on Thursday the 23rd and ended yesterday, Monday the 27th.
On Christmas eve, Lisa and Katie (Carolyn's sister and our niece) joined Carolyn, Wanda and me for an afternoon that started with a church service that found us in the overflow tent, followed by gift exchanges, talking and dinner served on Spode Christmas plates of prime beef, roasted potatoes, vegies, wine and dessert. I got a Seinfeld DVD from the first two seasons and Lisa and Katie got homemade knitted scarves from Carolyn. Lisa and Katie left in the evening while Wanda stayed over to share Christmas morning with us.
Christmas day was Southern California winter warm at around 70 and with no small children to start the process, we all slept in a little longer than our norm. But I had to have a shower and shave before starting with our stockings as I didn't want to scare Wanda with my "bed head". We found stockings stuffed with unique magazines, decadent chocolates, and small gifts like a new pocket knife for Carolyn. After fueling with coffee and homemade scones, we dug into the big stuff. I was gifted with several new shirts and slacks along with a new 70-210 telephoto for my old Olympus 1 and topsiders from Wanda for my future boat (the sailboat that my friend and I are talking about acquiring in the 25 to 27' range). Carolyn scored a pearl ring (she had found it on her shopping trip to the jewelry mart area of LA), several CDs, and a promise of a new drafting board and chair that are on their way from the mid-west for her art work. I enjoyed watching some of the Lakers-Heat game along with a little football as well. Then I drove Wanda home.
Sunday, we made it to church and this time were early enough to sit in the main sanctuary where we heard a good sermon on putting the past behind you - what benefit is there in worrying about the past? The admonition from Paul was to press on, to try to be more Christ-like. Good reminders for the upcoming new year! We then went home to ready our house for the return of Ashley and Bryce! We did manage a nap however.
John and Sally Hales stopped by in their Suburban on Sunday around 6 p.m. and the four of us headed up to John Wayne to pick up Ash and Bryce. They arrived timely at 7 and it was good to get/give hugs from/to them after nearly a year (for me, at least). After getting their bags, we drove directly to In N Out to satisfy Bryce's cravings, and he certainly seemed to enjoy it. Then back to our home where the elder Hales left us. Bryce managed to stay up to 9:30 or so before he collapsed in his own king-sized bed with a sigh of pleasure heard down the hall. Ashley managed to talk to us for another half hour before heading to bed herself. It is good to have them back for a little while.
Monday morning was Christmas No. 3 and we enjoyed gifting Ashley and Bryce. Their stockings were filled with socks, candy, magazines and gift certificates for In N Out, Chipotle and Starbucks so they can go out together or with friends. Then we gave them a couple of their gifts before the Hales family returned that afternoon. Bryce got a U2 Ipod (definitely a hit) and they finally got a DVD from their wedding. In the early afternoon, the Hales including Blake, Margaret (Bryce's grandmother), Lisa, and Wanda returned for more gifts exchanges and dinner. Ashley ended up with lots of new clothes, Bryce received the Ipod and some clothes, Carolyn had made scarves for everyone, the Hales had given Ash and Bryce the gift of the plane tickets home, and various other chocolates, bottles of wine, etc. were exchanged. Before and after, everyone huddled in our new kitchen eating appetizers and drinking champagne which was followed by dinner of pork loin, twice baked potatoes, green beans, cranberry molded salad and rolls along with a nice cab/merlot.
We finished up the evening with a Hales tradition of bingo played for white elephant type gifts that Sally and Carolyn had provided. We had a hilarious time as various participants had trouble reading the numbers off the balls or mis-hearing the numbers called. Meanwhile, I continued my poker luck by winning four or five or six times even after being handed cards by others who complained that their cards never won. For my success, I ended up with two rather tacky picture frames and a box of chocolates!
Everyone then left and Ashley and Bryce headed up to bed still trying to overcome the jet lag of their 18 hour journey home. Carolyn and I finished cleaning up and then hit the spa for a few minutes to sooth my aching back before heading off to bed ourselves. We had a great five day holiday break and look forward to more evenings and days with Ashley and Bryce in between their getting together with all their California friends and family!
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Good Night at the Table
Our poker group met again last night for an evening of Texas Hold 'Em amidst bluffing, 'praying', eating and 'attaboys' after a particularly well played hand.
We started off with six players and added a seventh about two hours into our game. I was lucky and in the first hour and half or so I had about doubled my initial $20 buy-in and the losers in the group had bought some of my chips so for the rest of the evening I had that $20 tucked away in my pocket and was playing with other peoples money. I hovered around $15 to $25 up for most of the rest of the evening fueled by hands like my A-2-3-4-5 straight that no one saw coming (the A-2 were my hole cards). Then around 10:30 just before our 11:00 cut-off, I started getting some really nice hands again and some of the others led the way in raising pots that I was lucky enough to take. I ended up with a profit of $50.25, by far my best night with the boys!
I'm beginning to enjoy this monthly outing!
We started off with six players and added a seventh about two hours into our game. I was lucky and in the first hour and half or so I had about doubled my initial $20 buy-in and the losers in the group had bought some of my chips so for the rest of the evening I had that $20 tucked away in my pocket and was playing with other peoples money. I hovered around $15 to $25 up for most of the rest of the evening fueled by hands like my A-2-3-4-5 straight that no one saw coming (the A-2 were my hole cards). Then around 10:30 just before our 11:00 cut-off, I started getting some really nice hands again and some of the others led the way in raising pots that I was lucky enough to take. I ended up with a profit of $50.25, by far my best night with the boys!
I'm beginning to enjoy this monthly outing!
Monday, December 20, 2004
Holiday Weekend
I thought we were done with Christmas parties/events, but this last weekend proved that false.
Friday, Carolyn and Wanda rode the train up to LA (a little late after their 9:45 a.m. train derailed before reaching Irvine) to meet with Lisa and Katie for an afternoon of window shopping and conversation before Katie's choir performance at Crescenta Valley High. I then left work at 5 p.m. and drove over to Montrose and met them at Lisa's condo before we all drove over for the performance. I was utterly amazed that a public high school sang and played so many Christian hymns! They had a full orchestra and three separate choirs on the stage singing various Christmas themed music. For the finale, alumni including Lisa and Carolyn, were invited on stage to sing the Hallelujah Chorus with the retired choir director. I think Carolyn, standing in front of the young men, sang every part! But they both had a great time.
Then we drove through the holiday lighted Montrose and stopped at a BBQ place for a late dinner of pulled pork or brisket sandwiches. Then, after dropping Lisa and Katie off and picking up Wanda's new artificial "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree, we drove home and Wanda slept over.
Saturday was spent sweeping up the leaves in the yard that continue to fall - alas, when will the horror finally end? It was a beautiful weekend with temps in the high 70s and it called out to those of you living in colder climes. Then we readied ourselves for a evening at the Orange County Pops Symphony with front row tickets made available from Lewis Company.
Again, songs filled the air proclaiming the incarnation of the Savior with only a short section devoted to Hannukah and, thankfully, nothing to Kwanza. At one point, the conductor asked for volunteers and, of course, my bride was one of five invited to perform with the orchestra! She played the bells (like in sleigh bells) while Rockette-kicking, doe-see-doeing and generally hamming it up with the others on a stage with only three thousand or so in the audience looking on! So now Carolyn can honestly say that she has performed as a featured instrumentalist with the OC Orchestra!
Sunday, we drove down to pick up Wanda for Church, but found she was just too tired to make it. So we made our way down and enjoyed the sermon and Pastor Mike's teaching by ourselves. Then I dropped Carolyn off at the Hawley's for an afternoon baby shower while I drove home to do a few chores and watch some football. Carolyn got a lot of good ideas for 'future' baby showers. Our evening finished up with sharing a dinner from Biagios and catching a TV show or two before jumping into the spa for about two minutes (it was tooooooo hot) before calling it a weekend and a night.
Friday, Carolyn and Wanda rode the train up to LA (a little late after their 9:45 a.m. train derailed before reaching Irvine) to meet with Lisa and Katie for an afternoon of window shopping and conversation before Katie's choir performance at Crescenta Valley High. I then left work at 5 p.m. and drove over to Montrose and met them at Lisa's condo before we all drove over for the performance. I was utterly amazed that a public high school sang and played so many Christian hymns! They had a full orchestra and three separate choirs on the stage singing various Christmas themed music. For the finale, alumni including Lisa and Carolyn, were invited on stage to sing the Hallelujah Chorus with the retired choir director. I think Carolyn, standing in front of the young men, sang every part! But they both had a great time.
Then we drove through the holiday lighted Montrose and stopped at a BBQ place for a late dinner of pulled pork or brisket sandwiches. Then, after dropping Lisa and Katie off and picking up Wanda's new artificial "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree, we drove home and Wanda slept over.
Saturday was spent sweeping up the leaves in the yard that continue to fall - alas, when will the horror finally end? It was a beautiful weekend with temps in the high 70s and it called out to those of you living in colder climes. Then we readied ourselves for a evening at the Orange County Pops Symphony with front row tickets made available from Lewis Company.
Again, songs filled the air proclaiming the incarnation of the Savior with only a short section devoted to Hannukah and, thankfully, nothing to Kwanza. At one point, the conductor asked for volunteers and, of course, my bride was one of five invited to perform with the orchestra! She played the bells (like in sleigh bells) while Rockette-kicking, doe-see-doeing and generally hamming it up with the others on a stage with only three thousand or so in the audience looking on! So now Carolyn can honestly say that she has performed as a featured instrumentalist with the OC Orchestra!
Sunday, we drove down to pick up Wanda for Church, but found she was just too tired to make it. So we made our way down and enjoyed the sermon and Pastor Mike's teaching by ourselves. Then I dropped Carolyn off at the Hawley's for an afternoon baby shower while I drove home to do a few chores and watch some football. Carolyn got a lot of good ideas for 'future' baby showers. Our evening finished up with sharing a dinner from Biagios and catching a TV show or two before jumping into the spa for about two minutes (it was tooooooo hot) before calling it a weekend and a night.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Can I Rest Now?
Thursday, our Couples Bible study potluck. Friday, our Lake Forest I boat parade. Saturday, a drive up to Pomona for my company Christmas party after having put up Christmas lights, cleaned up the garden and started the long process of cleaning the garage. I acquired a five-year service award that makes either a handsome paper weight or a unique murder weapon. And, finally, Sunday picking up Wanda to go to our church, the service, returning to talk with Wanda for an hour or two, then some shopping, lunch, fixing the Christmas lights that were out, hanging some new ones, putting boxes back up in the attic, cleaning up around the computer, ironing, watching a little football (American), and then settling in for a three hour marathon of Survivor finale. Then we decided we had to watch another program we had recorded earlier so I got into bed around 11:45 and was up this morning at 5:30.
I need a nap!! I think most of our holiday events are over except, of course, Christmas itself, maybe a visit to watch the Newport Beach boat parade and the Boxing Day return of the younger Hales, Ashley and Bryce. I guess we'll have to clean-up 'their room' so they have a place to put their bags. And then there is always the Christmas shopping that I seem to postpone to the latter days of the shopping window! Wish me luck.
I need a nap!! I think most of our holiday events are over except, of course, Christmas itself, maybe a visit to watch the Newport Beach boat parade and the Boxing Day return of the younger Hales, Ashley and Bryce. I guess we'll have to clean-up 'their room' so they have a place to put their bags. And then there is always the Christmas shopping that I seem to postpone to the latter days of the shopping window! Wish me luck.
Friday, December 10, 2004
Holiday Party
Last night we had our Thursday night Bible study over for a Christmas 'potluck' if you could call it that with all the gourmet cooks in our group!
The six couples enjoyed an appetizer of cream cheese covered with a raspberry chipotle sauce and then after re-heating and prep work, all twelve of us went into the dining room for a dinner of spinach salad with warm bacon dressing, pot roast that just fell apart roasted with carrots and onions, pork loin, steamed vegetables, twice-stuffed potatoes and rolls. Some enjoyed a glass of fume blanc while a few others had a combo cabernet-merlot.
After clearing the table, we went into the living room which Carolyn had finished decorating with our Christmas candles and nativity scenes to sit down and have our white elephant exchange. Otherwise known as the "pass the junk" exchange. Some of the highlights included an absurdly decorated piggy bank, an angel with broken head, and a large smiley face yellow cup. We finished up with a decadent chocolate cake and coffee.
We had a great time and we enjoyed it all, but I am glad we have a two-drawer dishwasher because we had a LOT of dishes.
The six couples enjoyed an appetizer of cream cheese covered with a raspberry chipotle sauce and then after re-heating and prep work, all twelve of us went into the dining room for a dinner of spinach salad with warm bacon dressing, pot roast that just fell apart roasted with carrots and onions, pork loin, steamed vegetables, twice-stuffed potatoes and rolls. Some enjoyed a glass of fume blanc while a few others had a combo cabernet-merlot.
After clearing the table, we went into the living room which Carolyn had finished decorating with our Christmas candles and nativity scenes to sit down and have our white elephant exchange. Otherwise known as the "pass the junk" exchange. Some of the highlights included an absurdly decorated piggy bank, an angel with broken head, and a large smiley face yellow cup. We finished up with a decadent chocolate cake and coffee.
We had a great time and we enjoyed it all, but I am glad we have a two-drawer dishwasher because we had a LOT of dishes.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Birthday Celebration
Since we had been attending parties on both Saturday and Sunday nights, Carolyn and I hadn't had the opportunity to go out and celebrate her 12/05 birthday by ourselves.
Well, we were both so tired on Monday that we just stayed home, but we managed to go out last night. We went to BJ's Pizza which is in the former Gordon Biersch facility by the Laguna Hills Mall. Carolyn had been there for a lunch with some of the ladies from Community Bible Study within the last month so we tried it out for dinner.
They have opened up the interior which makes it feel a lot larger than Gordon's and they still serve micro-brews along with pizza, pasta, sandwiches, burgers, steaks and 'comfort food' like meatloaf or pot roast. I chose this huge frisco type burger with cheese and bacon while Carolyn, longing for the UK, had fish and chips. Both were delicious and well complimented with our medium dark brews.
Then, because I'd mentioned the birthday, our waiter brought us this heavenly dessert of warm chocolate, macadamia nut cookie covered with vanilla ice cream! It reminded us of Ashley's birthday 'cake' at age 8 in Crested Butte which was a large decorated cookie.
Certainly not on anyone's diet, but we came home full (maybe a little too full) and Carolyn's birthday had once again been extended for a few days. If she had her way, it would be a full week!
Well, we were both so tired on Monday that we just stayed home, but we managed to go out last night. We went to BJ's Pizza which is in the former Gordon Biersch facility by the Laguna Hills Mall. Carolyn had been there for a lunch with some of the ladies from Community Bible Study within the last month so we tried it out for dinner.
They have opened up the interior which makes it feel a lot larger than Gordon's and they still serve micro-brews along with pizza, pasta, sandwiches, burgers, steaks and 'comfort food' like meatloaf or pot roast. I chose this huge frisco type burger with cheese and bacon while Carolyn, longing for the UK, had fish and chips. Both were delicious and well complimented with our medium dark brews.
Then, because I'd mentioned the birthday, our waiter brought us this heavenly dessert of warm chocolate, macadamia nut cookie covered with vanilla ice cream! It reminded us of Ashley's birthday 'cake' at age 8 in Crested Butte which was a large decorated cookie.
Certainly not on anyone's diet, but we came home full (maybe a little too full) and Carolyn's birthday had once again been extended for a few days. If she had her way, it would be a full week!
Monday, December 06, 2004
Parties and Rain
It's almost winter around here with the wind blowing, the rain and temps in the high 40s at noon on Sunday.
Carolyn was baking an apple-pear pie on Friday when I got home from work that was to be our contribution on Saturday's get together and we sat in our kitchen enjoying wine, cheese and crackers while it finished baking. Darla then called and invited us over for a Christmas tour of the lake. A number of lakefront owners had already decorated the weekend of Thanksgiving so lights flickered off the lake and herds of "deer" stood amongst decks and potted plants.
Saturday, Carolyn went off with five of the 'queens' to the jewelry mart area of LA while I did laundry, cleaned up the house, and watched the USC-UCLA game which SC won by a measly five points when they had been expected to win by a margin of over twenty points. Carolyn called with her success at finding a birthday gift for herself from me and another for Christmas. That pretty much solved my shopping issues for the season!
The queens and their husbands met that evening down in Links Pointe and enjoyed conversation along with wine, shrimp, ham, appetizers and desserts. The ladies showed off their shopping prowess while the Oklahoma game played in the background.
Sunday, we finally made it to church after an absence of several weeks and Pastor Mike again effectively used his own life experience to illustrate the passage from Corinthians. Then we stopped by Wanda's for a brief visit and I hung a new watercolor for her that she had purchased at the community art show. Then it was home to start the process of decorating for Christmas by setting up the tree and getting all the boxes out of the attic.
Six o'clock found us at the next party of the weekend for Community Bible Study. We drove up to Villa Park in the rain and I met all the women leaders and their husbands who get together just this one-time a year. I didn't hide in the corner very often but made acquaintance with a number of guys when we found connections through our work, mutual friends, or sports centered on SMCHS.
After a full weekend, we drove home, cranked up the heat in the house, watched an NYPD Blue from last week that we had taped, then dove into bed after throwing on an extra blanket to make it all cozy. That's all folks!
Carolyn was baking an apple-pear pie on Friday when I got home from work that was to be our contribution on Saturday's get together and we sat in our kitchen enjoying wine, cheese and crackers while it finished baking. Darla then called and invited us over for a Christmas tour of the lake. A number of lakefront owners had already decorated the weekend of Thanksgiving so lights flickered off the lake and herds of "deer" stood amongst decks and potted plants.
Saturday, Carolyn went off with five of the 'queens' to the jewelry mart area of LA while I did laundry, cleaned up the house, and watched the USC-UCLA game which SC won by a measly five points when they had been expected to win by a margin of over twenty points. Carolyn called with her success at finding a birthday gift for herself from me and another for Christmas. That pretty much solved my shopping issues for the season!
The queens and their husbands met that evening down in Links Pointe and enjoyed conversation along with wine, shrimp, ham, appetizers and desserts. The ladies showed off their shopping prowess while the Oklahoma game played in the background.
Sunday, we finally made it to church after an absence of several weeks and Pastor Mike again effectively used his own life experience to illustrate the passage from Corinthians. Then we stopped by Wanda's for a brief visit and I hung a new watercolor for her that she had purchased at the community art show. Then it was home to start the process of decorating for Christmas by setting up the tree and getting all the boxes out of the attic.
Six o'clock found us at the next party of the weekend for Community Bible Study. We drove up to Villa Park in the rain and I met all the women leaders and their husbands who get together just this one-time a year. I didn't hide in the corner very often but made acquaintance with a number of guys when we found connections through our work, mutual friends, or sports centered on SMCHS.
After a full weekend, we drove home, cranked up the heat in the house, watched an NYPD Blue from last week that we had taped, then dove into bed after throwing on an extra blanket to make it all cozy. That's all folks!
Monday, November 29, 2004
Wanda's 80th
After a rainy and blustery day on Saturday, we awoke Sunday morning to find the sun shining and the wind nearly still. We called at 9 a.m. to find that Wanda should be able to take her balloon flight out of Del Mar!
Carolyn and I drove to Wanda's home where we were met by Lisa and Katie, so at a little after 11 we left for a brunch in Del Mar. Steve and Candy met us at the Brigatine after driving down from Victorville. We had a great champagne brunch and Wanda opened her gifts. After leaving our waitress with love-life tips (she said she'd like to be proposed to on a balloon flight, but her boyfriend wasn't likely to be proposing anytime soon - we suggested she dump him), we wandered the main street and checked out various over-priced shops including one where you could buy a large jade incense burner at the value price of $150,000!
Then over to the Coffee Bean to meet up with the balloon company and have both Wanda and Carolyn sign away any ability to sue in case of death. We followed their vans through the back roads of Rancho Santa Fe to a small open field where two balloons were inflated, first with big fans, and then with propane heated air. The smaller balloon lifted off with six or eight people rather quickly, but as Carolyn and Wanda where on the "biggest balloon on the west coast" it took two tries to fill it correctly and both ladies crowded in with twelve others plus the pilot to make their ascent. Slowly they ascended and headed to the south and probably reached 1500 feet.
Lisa, Katie and I followed the vans in the chase (Steve and Candy headed home) and utilized Lisa's rental Jeep's four-wheel-drive in a couple of places as we went into fields or over median strips. Wanda and Carolyn landed and called us on the cellular to let us know they were earth bound (after three hops on landing!) and we met up with them about five minutes after touchdown. Then, it was champagne for the passengers along with a few appetizers.
Wanda enjoyed the flight and may try it again on her 85th. It was a long day, but we were glad we could do something special for Nans and that all her kids could show up to celebrate.
Carolyn and I drove to Wanda's home where we were met by Lisa and Katie, so at a little after 11 we left for a brunch in Del Mar. Steve and Candy met us at the Brigatine after driving down from Victorville. We had a great champagne brunch and Wanda opened her gifts. After leaving our waitress with love-life tips (she said she'd like to be proposed to on a balloon flight, but her boyfriend wasn't likely to be proposing anytime soon - we suggested she dump him), we wandered the main street and checked out various over-priced shops including one where you could buy a large jade incense burner at the value price of $150,000!
Then over to the Coffee Bean to meet up with the balloon company and have both Wanda and Carolyn sign away any ability to sue in case of death. We followed their vans through the back roads of Rancho Santa Fe to a small open field where two balloons were inflated, first with big fans, and then with propane heated air. The smaller balloon lifted off with six or eight people rather quickly, but as Carolyn and Wanda where on the "biggest balloon on the west coast" it took two tries to fill it correctly and both ladies crowded in with twelve others plus the pilot to make their ascent. Slowly they ascended and headed to the south and probably reached 1500 feet.
Lisa, Katie and I followed the vans in the chase (Steve and Candy headed home) and utilized Lisa's rental Jeep's four-wheel-drive in a couple of places as we went into fields or over median strips. Wanda and Carolyn landed and called us on the cellular to let us know they were earth bound (after three hops on landing!) and we met up with them about five minutes after touchdown. Then, it was champagne for the passengers along with a few appetizers.
Wanda enjoyed the flight and may try it again on her 85th. It was a long day, but we were glad we could do something special for Nans and that all her kids could show up to celebrate.
Friday, November 26, 2004
The Day After
After massive amounts of turkey, that is. Well in actuality I didn't even go back for seconds, having appropriately mounded my first plate with turkey, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, sweet potato souffle and dinner roll. Did I forget anything? Maybe, but my waistline would disagree.
A few glasses of champagne/wine and appetizers of grapes and cheese were the prelude to another glorious day of American excess! But it was the only meal of the day unless you count the pumpkin and mince meat pie in the evening.
Today, I woke up an hour later than my typical workday morning and enjoyed coffee while reading the paper and a slice of pumpkin bread that Carolyn had made. Now I sit around in my robe at 9 a.m. reviewing my favorite blogs and news sites.
Just got a call from Dennis Hughes who found a Catalina 27 that's for sale up in Long Beach so we're going to check it out! When I shop, I shop!!
I'm hoping for a relaxing weekend with boats, football (American), turkey and stuffing, and Wanda's ballooning on Sunday.
A few glasses of champagne/wine and appetizers of grapes and cheese were the prelude to another glorious day of American excess! But it was the only meal of the day unless you count the pumpkin and mince meat pie in the evening.
Today, I woke up an hour later than my typical workday morning and enjoyed coffee while reading the paper and a slice of pumpkin bread that Carolyn had made. Now I sit around in my robe at 9 a.m. reviewing my favorite blogs and news sites.
Just got a call from Dennis Hughes who found a Catalina 27 that's for sale up in Long Beach so we're going to check it out! When I shop, I shop!!
I'm hoping for a relaxing weekend with boats, football (American), turkey and stuffing, and Wanda's ballooning on Sunday.
Monday, November 22, 2004
A Cold Wind Blew
This weekend was a cold one at least by Southern California standards. Late Saturday night or Sunday morning, the 20% chance of rain sounded more like 20 inches of rain. It just poured and the wind blew. We were the recipients of an Arctic blast and when Carolyn and I went out late Sunday afternoon, there was snow on Saddleback (quite low in fact) and people were even bundled in parkas and gloves! Not us, of course, we've been to Scotland!
I had left work early on Friday afternoon because I wasn't feeling that great and got home around 4 and crawled into bed for about a two nap. Carolyn said I had a slight fever, but the nap sweated it out of me, I think.
Saturday, Pattie Brown came over (she's here from London for about two weeks) to visit and later Wanda came over and helped Carolyn re-arrange pictures and knick-knacks now that the downstairs painting is practically complete while I got a haircut (the pre-Thanksgiving rush) and took my film to Cal's Cameras to have printed (esp. the 1 roll shot at the wrong ASA speed) as well as to have a few favorites enlarged.
Sunday, because Carolyn still didn't feel that well, we skipped church and read both papers in bed and then continued to work on de-cluttering our house. I ordered some new closet doors for our guest bedroom from Home Depot and went through piles of shirts, et al, that I began to iron while watching pro football. Then, in late afternoon, we drove out El Toro Road to watch the sun setting on one side and snow capped Saddleback Mtn. on the other. Afterwards, we grabbed dinner out in Foothill Ranch, Carolyn choosing Indian while I chose Mexican.
Now, I only have a short week of work (my favorite kind) and the view outside my office window is of the snow draped San Gabriel mountains! I heard this morning that there was even snow in Barstow.
May you all have a happy and tasty Thanksgiving!
I had left work early on Friday afternoon because I wasn't feeling that great and got home around 4 and crawled into bed for about a two nap. Carolyn said I had a slight fever, but the nap sweated it out of me, I think.
Saturday, Pattie Brown came over (she's here from London for about two weeks) to visit and later Wanda came over and helped Carolyn re-arrange pictures and knick-knacks now that the downstairs painting is practically complete while I got a haircut (the pre-Thanksgiving rush) and took my film to Cal's Cameras to have printed (esp. the 1 roll shot at the wrong ASA speed) as well as to have a few favorites enlarged.
Sunday, because Carolyn still didn't feel that well, we skipped church and read both papers in bed and then continued to work on de-cluttering our house. I ordered some new closet doors for our guest bedroom from Home Depot and went through piles of shirts, et al, that I began to iron while watching pro football. Then, in late afternoon, we drove out El Toro Road to watch the sun setting on one side and snow capped Saddleback Mtn. on the other. Afterwards, we grabbed dinner out in Foothill Ranch, Carolyn choosing Indian while I chose Mexican.
Now, I only have a short week of work (my favorite kind) and the view outside my office window is of the snow draped San Gabriel mountains! I heard this morning that there was even snow in Barstow.
May you all have a happy and tasty Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Happy as a Clam?
Well, my daughter's musings on the above phrase's meanings/origins directed me to a Google search where I found:
John G Saxe discussed the phrase poetically, in his Sonnet to a Clam, in the late 1840s:
Inglorious friend! most confident I am
Thy life is one of very little ease;
Albeit men mock thee with their similes,
And prate of being “happy as a clam!”
What though thy shell protects thy fragile head
From the sharp bailiffs of the briny sea?
Thy valves are, sure, no safety-valves to thee,
While rakes are free to desecrate thy bed,
And bear thee off,—as foemen take their spoil,
Far from thy friends and family to roam;
Forced, like a Hessian, from thy native home,
To meet destruction in a foreign broil!
Though thou art tender, yet thy humble bard
Declares, 0 clam! thy case is shocking hard!
The saying is very definitely American, hardly known elsewhere. The fact is, we’ve lost its second half, which makes everything clear. The full expression is happy as a clam at high tide or happy as a clam at high water. Clam digging has to be done at low tide, when you stand a chance of finding them and extracting them. At high water, clams are comfortably covered in water and so able to feed, comparatively at ease and free of the risk that some hunter will rip them untimely from their sandy berths. I guess that’s a good enough definition of happy.
Leave your thoughts or questions or knowledge on other phrases.
John G Saxe discussed the phrase poetically, in his Sonnet to a Clam, in the late 1840s:
Inglorious friend! most confident I am
Thy life is one of very little ease;
Albeit men mock thee with their similes,
And prate of being “happy as a clam!”
What though thy shell protects thy fragile head
From the sharp bailiffs of the briny sea?
Thy valves are, sure, no safety-valves to thee,
While rakes are free to desecrate thy bed,
And bear thee off,—as foemen take their spoil,
Far from thy friends and family to roam;
Forced, like a Hessian, from thy native home,
To meet destruction in a foreign broil!
Though thou art tender, yet thy humble bard
Declares, 0 clam! thy case is shocking hard!
The saying is very definitely American, hardly known elsewhere. The fact is, we’ve lost its second half, which makes everything clear. The full expression is happy as a clam at high tide or happy as a clam at high water. Clam digging has to be done at low tide, when you stand a chance of finding them and extracting them. At high water, clams are comfortably covered in water and so able to feed, comparatively at ease and free of the risk that some hunter will rip them untimely from their sandy berths. I guess that’s a good enough definition of happy.
Leave your thoughts or questions or knowledge on other phrases.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Autumnal Yosemite
Carolyn and I planned a short three day holiday in Yosemite and were getting ready early Saturday morning to depart when the phone rang around 6:30 a.m. Now, typically an early morning (or late night) call is not a good thing, but this time was different. Ashley was calling from Scotland with the fantastic news that her brother-in-law, Carter, had just been offered a professor position at his (and his wife's, Ashley's and Bryce's) alma mater, Westmont!! That is such great news and we know the Hales will be glad to have their grandchildren within driving distance!
And then, before I could ask, Ashley informed us that she has received her MSc degree from the University of Edinburgh - with distinction no less! We couldn't be prouder of her or of Bryce as they continue their pursuit of higher degrees.
So we started off a little later than we expected at 7:30 but made great time through LA and arrived at our hotel, The Tenaya Lodge, in Fish Camp just 2 miles outside of the entrance to Yosemite National Park. The day was sunny, but brisk, just what we had hoped for. We checked in and then made the 45 minute drive into the valley.
Of course, we had to stop at the outlook as you come through the long tunnel to take the shot that everyone has seen on numerous postcards or posters
and then we stopped at Bridalveil Falls which was pretty full after the recent rains and first snowfall in late October. We shot both digital and film and I only found out later that my ASA setting was set incorrectly for the 400 ASA film I was shooting. Dang! I'm hoping that the photo developer can push or pull that roll so I get some of my shots.
Then we drove through the valley toward the Visitor Center and the Ansel Adam's gallery and we stopped to shoot the shimmering Aspens in the meadow as they rained golden leaves down on all who passed by. Afterwards, we stopped on the bridge that frames Half Dome so well in one direction and the quiet Merced River with its reflective glory in the other.
We left the valley in the dimming light and drove back to the hotel where we had dinner amidst a fairly busy seminar/convention crowd and then a great night's sleep. Sunday morning we woke up at a leisurely hour and breakfasted downstairs with enough food to last us 'til evening. Back into the valley we ventured, this time to walk from the Curry Village area up to Happy Isles and then to the footbridge at the base of Vernal Falls. This time Carolyn made it all the way, but we both realize we need to walk more (like Ash and Bryce) so that we can do this more often. It would probably help if I wasn't carrying the equivalent of a 30 lb. pack with me as well (I'm not just talking about my day pack, if you know what I mean).
In celebration of our "feat", we drove over to the Awanhee and sat before the great stone fireplace, had a hot coffee drink in the bar, and toured/sketched the grounds. As we drove out of the valley for the last time on this trip, we were treated to a beautiful sunset over the low hills that roll down to the central valley.
Driving into the hotel, there were I think five cars in the parking lot. The hotel which had been full on Saturday night was now down to fifteen rooms on Sunday! We opened a bottle of the Justin vineyard's Orphan which we had purchased on our earlier trip to SLO and enjoyed the better part of it before dinner where we shared an order of prime rib which was excellent. Quite full, but encouraged/prodded by Carolyn, we went over to the indoor pool and spa for a soak before falling into a long sleep!
Waking at 9:30 (!), we again enjoyed breakfast at the hotel (there was one other person in the dining room with us) and then drove into the park to visit the giant redwoods. We strolled amidst towering trees and a welcome silence of nature beginning its long winter nap.
The drive home was a little longer with the traffic through LA, but we'd had a great time re-visiting one of our favorite places and having seen 3 coyote, 2 field mice and one deer, thundering falls, glorious vistas, smiles of fellow hikers and just regenerating our spirits and our fondness and love for each other.
And then, before I could ask, Ashley informed us that she has received her MSc degree from the University of Edinburgh - with distinction no less! We couldn't be prouder of her or of Bryce as they continue their pursuit of higher degrees.
So we started off a little later than we expected at 7:30 but made great time through LA and arrived at our hotel, The Tenaya Lodge, in Fish Camp just 2 miles outside of the entrance to Yosemite National Park. The day was sunny, but brisk, just what we had hoped for. We checked in and then made the 45 minute drive into the valley.
Of course, we had to stop at the outlook as you come through the long tunnel to take the shot that everyone has seen on numerous postcards or posters
and then we stopped at Bridalveil Falls which was pretty full after the recent rains and first snowfall in late October. We shot both digital and film and I only found out later that my ASA setting was set incorrectly for the 400 ASA film I was shooting. Dang! I'm hoping that the photo developer can push or pull that roll so I get some of my shots.
Then we drove through the valley toward the Visitor Center and the Ansel Adam's gallery and we stopped to shoot the shimmering Aspens in the meadow as they rained golden leaves down on all who passed by. Afterwards, we stopped on the bridge that frames Half Dome so well in one direction and the quiet Merced River with its reflective glory in the other.
We left the valley in the dimming light and drove back to the hotel where we had dinner amidst a fairly busy seminar/convention crowd and then a great night's sleep. Sunday morning we woke up at a leisurely hour and breakfasted downstairs with enough food to last us 'til evening. Back into the valley we ventured, this time to walk from the Curry Village area up to Happy Isles and then to the footbridge at the base of Vernal Falls. This time Carolyn made it all the way, but we both realize we need to walk more (like Ash and Bryce) so that we can do this more often. It would probably help if I wasn't carrying the equivalent of a 30 lb. pack with me as well (I'm not just talking about my day pack, if you know what I mean).
In celebration of our "feat", we drove over to the Awanhee and sat before the great stone fireplace, had a hot coffee drink in the bar, and toured/sketched the grounds. As we drove out of the valley for the last time on this trip, we were treated to a beautiful sunset over the low hills that roll down to the central valley.
Driving into the hotel, there were I think five cars in the parking lot. The hotel which had been full on Saturday night was now down to fifteen rooms on Sunday! We opened a bottle of the Justin vineyard's Orphan which we had purchased on our earlier trip to SLO and enjoyed the better part of it before dinner where we shared an order of prime rib which was excellent. Quite full, but encouraged/prodded by Carolyn, we went over to the indoor pool and spa for a soak before falling into a long sleep!
Waking at 9:30 (!), we again enjoyed breakfast at the hotel (there was one other person in the dining room with us) and then drove into the park to visit the giant redwoods. We strolled amidst towering trees and a welcome silence of nature beginning its long winter nap.
The drive home was a little longer with the traffic through LA, but we'd had a great time re-visiting one of our favorite places and having seen 3 coyote, 2 field mice and one deer, thundering falls, glorious vistas, smiles of fellow hikers and just regenerating our spirits and our fondness and love for each other.
Friday, November 12, 2004
Jury Gets One Right!
Scott Peterson was just found guilty of first degree murder of his wife, Laci, and second degree murder of his unborn son, Conner. After days of jury shifts and changes and two jurors expelled, the newly constituted jury got down to business and found Scott guilty in less the five hours.
I've listened to various pundits discuss the case over the last five months and I think the quickness of the verdict concerned some that it would mean an acquittal. But I guess, the cad like attitude displayed by Scott in his telephone calls to his 'girlfriend' Amber while at memorial services for Laci and the fact that Laci's body was discovered just miles away from where Scott was fishing and that there wasn't enough time for Laci to have been abducted that Christmas eve morning led to the inevitable conclusion that the weight of the circumstantial evidence said - GUILTY!
I can't imagine spending five months on a jury like this or having to be sequestered for the last week and a half. More power to those who were able to get it right!
I've listened to various pundits discuss the case over the last five months and I think the quickness of the verdict concerned some that it would mean an acquittal. But I guess, the cad like attitude displayed by Scott in his telephone calls to his 'girlfriend' Amber while at memorial services for Laci and the fact that Laci's body was discovered just miles away from where Scott was fishing and that there wasn't enough time for Laci to have been abducted that Christmas eve morning led to the inevitable conclusion that the weight of the circumstantial evidence said - GUILTY!
I can't imagine spending five months on a jury like this or having to be sequestered for the last week and a half. More power to those who were able to get it right!
Monday, November 08, 2004
The Weekend Past
Just a quick update on our weekend.
Saturday, I was greeted by a call from an "unknown" female who then announced it was my daughter. It just didn't sound like Ashley and she sounded so close. I think I need to check my hearing! But we had a good conversation and caught up on each other's activities.
After the normal chores around the house, Carolyn and I headed over to the Prior's for a baby shower for 28 lb. Marcus (Devin's son). It was mostly an open house, converse a little, drop off a gift and watch Marcus easily go from adult to adult. Then we went home and enjoyed a little afternoon nap before going over to Paul Rademaker's surprise 59th birthday party around 5:30.
Paul is in my accountability group so several guys and their wives from that group were there along with others that we didn't know. Carolyn and I sat with a John and Karen eating dinner only to find out they both go to our church (Pacific Coast Church) in San Clemente and that John is an artist/landscaper/waterfall maker! He and Carolyn talked about painting our "cascada" from its current gray elephant status to a more variegated look, and John will be coming over to check it out this week. It's funny how people with various talents or needs come into your life.
Sunday, we ran into the aforementioned John on the Church patio (Karen stayed home to be with her sister) so we ended up sitting together in the service. Afterwards, Dennis Hughes asked us to join him down at the harbor as he wanted to show us something. We trailed him down to the guest dock area where he showed us the 29' Ericksen that had recently been on EBay and had sold for a reasonable price. But one needed a slip to put the boat in and those are on a waiting list. We looked at a few different length boats and it was helpful to see them in person. I think we'd prefer a 27' to 29' length boat with an enclosed keel. We'll keep looking.
Then we headed over to Wanda's after picking up some tacos for lunch. After munching down on those, we three went to the Niguel Shores art show that they hold in their community center. Carolyn continued her lucky ways by winning a small sailboat painting (prophetic?) from the raffle and then we purchased two other watercolors that the Men's Club were selling, one a picture of a cottage in Cornwall, England and the other of Mirror Lake in the Grand Tetons.
I finished up the afternoon with a little pro football while Carolyn read and napped. Then Carolyn made a wonderful Chinese dinner that was delicious and we finished up the evening with American Dream.
This coming weekend, I'm going to take Monday off and we are going up to the Tenaya Lodge just outside of Yosemite so we can easily drive into the valley and walk and photograph one of our favorite spots. We expect it to be cold and beautiful!
Saturday, I was greeted by a call from an "unknown" female who then announced it was my daughter. It just didn't sound like Ashley and she sounded so close. I think I need to check my hearing! But we had a good conversation and caught up on each other's activities.
After the normal chores around the house, Carolyn and I headed over to the Prior's for a baby shower for 28 lb. Marcus (Devin's son). It was mostly an open house, converse a little, drop off a gift and watch Marcus easily go from adult to adult. Then we went home and enjoyed a little afternoon nap before going over to Paul Rademaker's surprise 59th birthday party around 5:30.
Paul is in my accountability group so several guys and their wives from that group were there along with others that we didn't know. Carolyn and I sat with a John and Karen eating dinner only to find out they both go to our church (Pacific Coast Church) in San Clemente and that John is an artist/landscaper/waterfall maker! He and Carolyn talked about painting our "cascada" from its current gray elephant status to a more variegated look, and John will be coming over to check it out this week. It's funny how people with various talents or needs come into your life.
Sunday, we ran into the aforementioned John on the Church patio (Karen stayed home to be with her sister) so we ended up sitting together in the service. Afterwards, Dennis Hughes asked us to join him down at the harbor as he wanted to show us something. We trailed him down to the guest dock area where he showed us the 29' Ericksen that had recently been on EBay and had sold for a reasonable price. But one needed a slip to put the boat in and those are on a waiting list. We looked at a few different length boats and it was helpful to see them in person. I think we'd prefer a 27' to 29' length boat with an enclosed keel. We'll keep looking.
Then we headed over to Wanda's after picking up some tacos for lunch. After munching down on those, we three went to the Niguel Shores art show that they hold in their community center. Carolyn continued her lucky ways by winning a small sailboat painting (prophetic?) from the raffle and then we purchased two other watercolors that the Men's Club were selling, one a picture of a cottage in Cornwall, England and the other of Mirror Lake in the Grand Tetons.
I finished up the afternoon with a little pro football while Carolyn read and napped. Then Carolyn made a wonderful Chinese dinner that was delicious and we finished up the evening with American Dream.
This coming weekend, I'm going to take Monday off and we are going up to the Tenaya Lodge just outside of Yosemite so we can easily drive into the valley and walk and photograph one of our favorite spots. We expect it to be cold and beautiful!
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Per Bryce's Request
Bryce commented that it would be helpful to have a map that reflects the 2004 Presidential election results. The map below shows those counties which voted for Bush (red) and those voting for Kerry (blue). We are truly a red nation.
Monday, November 01, 2004
My Election Predictions
In an effort to put myself out there before the polls open tomorrow, here are my projections on the national elections.
Bush takes the election with electoral votes of 283 to 255. Bush takes Ohio, Florida and late in the night, Hawaii. Kerry takes Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota (barely). Popular vote: Bush 51.3%; Kerry 47.9%; Nader .7%. As far as the Senate, the GOP picks up 2 or 3 seats and in the House, they pick up 8.
If we're lucky, tomorrow around 10 pm Tuesday night we'll know if I'm correct. Hopefully, we won't have a need for legal challenges
UPDATE As of 11:00 am PST 11/03/04 George Bush has 274 EV with New Mexico and Iowa likely to go to him as well which would give GW 286 EV v. Kerry's 254. Of the three major candidates, GW took 51.4% and Kerry had 48.3% of the popular vote. In the Senate, the GOP did markedly better than my estimate by picking up 3 seats with two more likely in Florida and Alaska which would shift the Senate to 55-44-1. And in the House, the net increase will be about the eight seats I predicted.
Bush takes the election with electoral votes of 283 to 255. Bush takes Ohio, Florida and late in the night, Hawaii. Kerry takes Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota (barely). Popular vote: Bush 51.3%; Kerry 47.9%; Nader .7%. As far as the Senate, the GOP picks up 2 or 3 seats and in the House, they pick up 8.
If we're lucky, tomorrow around 10 pm Tuesday night we'll know if I'm correct. Hopefully, we won't have a need for legal challenges
UPDATE As of 11:00 am PST 11/03/04 George Bush has 274 EV with New Mexico and Iowa likely to go to him as well which would give GW 286 EV v. Kerry's 254. Of the three major candidates, GW took 51.4% and Kerry had 48.3% of the popular vote. In the Senate, the GOP did markedly better than my estimate by picking up 3 seats with two more likely in Florida and Alaska which would shift the Senate to 55-44-1. And in the House, the net increase will be about the eight seats I predicted.
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Halloween on Islamare
Horror and fun at the end of Islamare with the Bethkes and Jonathon providing most of the terror (although my outfit might scare more than a few)!!
Saturday, October 30, 2004
Weekend Pictures
After a welcome conversation with my daughter this morning, I thought I'd post two more of my favorite pictures from our trip to visit Ashley and Bryce this past December.
St. Andrews Cathedral Cemetery
St. Andrews Cathedral Cemetery
St. Andrews Cathedral Cemetery
St. Andrews Cathedral Cemetery
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Create a Caption
Does this picture disturb you as much as it does me?
I challenge you all to leave an appropriate caption.
I challenge you all to leave an appropriate caption.
Monday, October 25, 2004
Fall Weekend
This last weekend was a nice Fall weekend. We started off in the morning cleaning up the yard of fallen leaves, etc. to quickly change from sweatshirts to t-shirts after about 15 minutes as the day warmed up just enough to take the chill off. It was nice to see the trees beginning to change color a little after the change in temps with our two or three days of rain (a good start for the rainy season).
A few other chores and some college football took up the rest of the afternoon and then we took a "Halloween Cruise" with the Bethkes whose boat was decorated with pumpkins, witches and small skeleton lights.
Church service was dedicated to missionary work and emphasized the dramatic increase in Christianity with the last 40 years, primarily in China and South Korea. The swath of countries from Indo-China through the Middle East to northern Africa remains the most difficult and least evangelized area in the world.
Sunday lunch was nachos with cheese, black beans, salsa and guacamole with brewskis as we watched some pro football. We ate enough that we didn't even have dinner! After some computer/financial work, I then caught the second game of the World Series and watched Boston go up 2 to 0.
Obviously, not an over-taxing weekend, but just fun to relax and enjoy our home and neighborhood. Hope you had a good weekend as well.
A few other chores and some college football took up the rest of the afternoon and then we took a "Halloween Cruise" with the Bethkes whose boat was decorated with pumpkins, witches and small skeleton lights.
Church service was dedicated to missionary work and emphasized the dramatic increase in Christianity with the last 40 years, primarily in China and South Korea. The swath of countries from Indo-China through the Middle East to northern Africa remains the most difficult and least evangelized area in the world.
Sunday lunch was nachos with cheese, black beans, salsa and guacamole with brewskis as we watched some pro football. We ate enough that we didn't even have dinner! After some computer/financial work, I then caught the second game of the World Series and watched Boston go up 2 to 0.
Obviously, not an over-taxing weekend, but just fun to relax and enjoy our home and neighborhood. Hope you had a good weekend as well.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
October Poker
Poker is more fun when you win
Like roulette balls that spin
And to your number slot don't fall
Losing is no fun at all
Six or seven is better than four
Players only wishing for more
To share the betting or deal
Or fixing a snack or meal
Where were the cards for me to make
Four of a kind,a flush or a straight
No, this week my fate just to lose
Next month, perhaps I'll have better news
Like roulette balls that spin
And to your number slot don't fall
Losing is no fun at all
Six or seven is better than four
Players only wishing for more
To share the betting or deal
Or fixing a snack or meal
Where were the cards for me to make
Four of a kind,a flush or a straight
No, this week my fate just to lose
Next month, perhaps I'll have better news
Monday, October 18, 2004
Sunday's Sermon
Do you sometimes think about skipping church when your senior pastor isn't preaching and the church will be having a guest preacher? In the past, I sometimes have felt that way, but not at Pacific Coast Church as every "substitute" I've heard has been excellent.
Dr. Richard Mayhue who is the Dean of Masters Seminary (www.tms.edu) preached this last Sunday. The first thing that caught my attention was when he stated that he is invited to numerous churches to preach and in some cases he refuses as they wouldn't be open to his preaching faithfully from the Word. That I considered a strong rebuke.
He spoke on Revelation 1:9-17 and its description of Christ. Nowhere else in the Bible do we get any information about Jesus' physicality - his height, musculature, eye color, or prominent features. But in these verses we see Christ in his glory as our high priest and John doesn't sit down and talk with him, but falls at his feet overcome by his righteousness, his glory, his magnificence. A position that we will all find ourselves in some day, hopefully in thankfulness and adoration, rather than in submission and despair.
Dr. Richard Mayhue who is the Dean of Masters Seminary (www.tms.edu) preached this last Sunday. The first thing that caught my attention was when he stated that he is invited to numerous churches to preach and in some cases he refuses as they wouldn't be open to his preaching faithfully from the Word. That I considered a strong rebuke.
He spoke on Revelation 1:9-17 and its description of Christ. Nowhere else in the Bible do we get any information about Jesus' physicality - his height, musculature, eye color, or prominent features. But in these verses we see Christ in his glory as our high priest and John doesn't sit down and talk with him, but falls at his feet overcome by his righteousness, his glory, his magnificence. A position that we will all find ourselves in some day, hopefully in thankfulness and adoration, rather than in submission and despair.
Friday, October 15, 2004
Friday's Pics
Two of my favorites from our trip to London and Scotland in December 2003 where we had a great time with Ashley and Bryce.
London Park
Stirling Castle
London Park
Stirling Castle
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Don't Try This After Drinking
Click on the this for a look at an optical illusion that will test your sobriety.
Pleasant Evening
Got home Monday night fairly quickly as Columbus Day kept some of the public servants and students off the freeway. The day had been partially overcast with high clouds as a quick moving front passed through the area - a promise of "cooler" days to come.
I pulled in the trash cans and refilled the recycle bin about 3/4 full with more cardboard left over from the new appliances and boxes from our kitchen. (Wanda had come over on Saturday to help Carolyn start to put things back in the kitchen as most of the cabinets were now available even though plumbing and electrical items remain to be completed.) Carolyn was baking a Trader Joe's lasagna in our new oven and learning how to use the new controls and we ate at our new marble countertop and imagined how it will be to have running water, a dishwasher (no garage sink), a garbage disposal, and how good it will look with a new copper hood and painted!
We checked e-mail and blogs, did a little financial work and watched a smattering of national news. Then we watched American Dreams from last Sunday night (a DVR is a nice new addition to cable) which was focused on the Vietnam war, and then headed down to the jacuzzi for a hot soak under a dark sky. We enjoyed it but could only handle it for about 10 minutes and we were still so warm we sat out on our bedroom deck and talked while wrapped in our beach towels. Not something you could comfortably do in Edinburgh, I suspect. Then it was off to a warm bed at 9:30 or so. Quite pleasant!
Throughout the night, we had flashes of lightning and distant rolling thunder and even a little rain as the front raced through Southern California. A little bit of nature's drama for our typically weather challenged area.
I pulled in the trash cans and refilled the recycle bin about 3/4 full with more cardboard left over from the new appliances and boxes from our kitchen. (Wanda had come over on Saturday to help Carolyn start to put things back in the kitchen as most of the cabinets were now available even though plumbing and electrical items remain to be completed.) Carolyn was baking a Trader Joe's lasagna in our new oven and learning how to use the new controls and we ate at our new marble countertop and imagined how it will be to have running water, a dishwasher (no garage sink), a garbage disposal, and how good it will look with a new copper hood and painted!
We checked e-mail and blogs, did a little financial work and watched a smattering of national news. Then we watched American Dreams from last Sunday night (a DVR is a nice new addition to cable) which was focused on the Vietnam war, and then headed down to the jacuzzi for a hot soak under a dark sky. We enjoyed it but could only handle it for about 10 minutes and we were still so warm we sat out on our bedroom deck and talked while wrapped in our beach towels. Not something you could comfortably do in Edinburgh, I suspect. Then it was off to a warm bed at 9:30 or so. Quite pleasant!
Throughout the night, we had flashes of lightning and distant rolling thunder and even a little rain as the front raced through Southern California. A little bit of nature's drama for our typically weather challenged area.
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Kitchen Update
The marble is down and Carolyn is beginning to put some things away! We have electrical outlets and lights to finish along with the installation of plumbing, dishwasher and the copper hood and painting, but the kitchen is usable and looks fantastic!
Friday Pictures (a little late)
Here are some pictures from Yellowstone National Park on a road trip when Ashley was 13 and we drove about 3000 miles in 11 days to Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Oregon. Ashley had her head in a book a lot of the time, so she may not remember the scenery!
Yellowstone Meadow
Yellowstone Falls
Yellowstone Meadow
Yellowstone Falls
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Liquid and Electronics
Just a word to my fellow bloggers - wine and keyboards don't mix! A made a clumsy mistake the other day by spilling a nice glass of wine which basically fried my keyboard. I tried typing in a username on one of my websites and Hutchins sort of came out like HutCJkEwgSS. Needless to say, I couldn't access that site or my blog and Carolyn couldn't get her email from our desktop computer. Today I picked up a new keyboard and we are online again. Hurrah!!
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Musical Interlude
If you have high-speed access, you might enjoy the singing talents of 'George Bush' and 'John Kerry' at this site. Just click the title "Musical Interlude" which is linked to www.jibjab.com and then on This Land is My Land.
Monday, October 04, 2004
Weekend Pictures
A few pictures from our fun weekend
Steve, Carolyn and Debbie
Artist Capturing the Street Scene
Art on Display
Outside a Winery
Justin Winery - Dave's Domain
Justin Winery
Steve, Carolyn and Debbie
Artist Capturing the Street Scene
Art on Display
Outside a Winery
Justin Winery - Dave's Domain
Justin Winery
Fun Weekend
We had a great weekend with Steve and Debbie Kanda as we drove up to San Luis Obispo for a three day experience of art and vineyards.
Starting off an hour late on Friday at 11:30, we motored up to SLO in the back seat of Steph's Solara (Steve and she had traded cars for a couple of weeks) and made it up to the Apple Farm Inn and checked in only to find our rooms rather small and disappointing to Debbie who had stayed there a number of other times in the much larger rooms. After Debbie and Carolyn talked with the front desk, we moved into the main inn for Friday night only at the same rate as the smaller room. This room had a bigger sitting area, a bed you could easily get around, a closet (not just an armoire), a bathroom with a tub, and luxurious robes! Much nicer.
We headed into SLO for dinner at Firestones for burgers and beers while watching the college crowd begin to assemble for a later night than we four were up for. Then back to the Inn for a good night's sleep.
We met for breakfast at 9:30 at the Apple Farm restaurant for a big breakfast and then we headed off to the quick draw competition that was being held at the mission. The artists including Robin Cloud (Carolyn's art teacher) had 1 1/2 hours in which to sketch, paint and frame a piece for the competition. It was fun to see how good they all were and their various "takes" on the same general area. At noon, they began an outdoor auction and while we tried to acquire a couple of them, they often went for several hundred dollars more than we were willing to pay. Most went from $600 to $1500.
After watching about 2/3's of the auction, we headed into the foothills for wine tasting. We sampled a few whites, but mostly reds from several wineries as we enjoyed the rolling hill vistas and warm temperatures modified later in the day by a slight sea breeze. We bought a few bottles for our new wine refrig and some argon gas to "seal" those occasional unfinished bottles. Then back to the Inn (and our new smaller, original rooms) to change and head to the evening art auction and buffet.
Skewered chicken, sausage and beef with asparagus, salads and wine from Edna Vineyards (where we had visited earlier in the day) provided us with our evening sustenance as we viewed three pieces from each of the 50 or so artists that were available for silent auction beginning with a reserve price. Most of the reserve prices were $900 and above with only a few less than that so we just enjoyed mingling and viewing with no buying.
We finished up the evening having desert at ColdStone and visiting bubble gum alley where tens of thousands of pieces of gum have been deposited along 100' of a very narrow alley as 'tributes' from students over three of four decades. No one wanted to touch the wall!
Sunday morning we had breakfast in bed and checked out at noon and headed up to Templeton to meet Dave and Tim, friends of Steph and Manny from Cal Poly, to visit Dave's workplace - Justin Vineyards. A long drive through two lane, rolling hills following these former offensive lineman led us to a spectacular winery and small inn. Dave had arranged for lunch which was excellent and then led us through the winery and the cellars which are carved out of the hillside.
Dave is the Cellar Master in charge of the thousands of barrels of wine stacked five or more high and which in December had cascaded down after a 6.5 earthquake ruining about 200 barrels of wine and leading to their Orphan bottles which were delicious mixes of a wide variety of reds. Back in the tasting room, we joined the wine club and found a former SMCHS 2000 grad pouring behind the counter. Small world.
Steve continued his driving duties which I thoroughly enjoyed as we left late and headed home with a quick stop at Peabody's in Montecito for dinner and then onto to Torrance, where we traded out cars with Steph at around 11 and made it home at midnight. The only problem was the 5:30 start to this Monday morning.
We laughed a lot and just enjoyed each other's company and heard tales from the SLO days about Manny and his 20x20 at In N Out and licking chocolate pudding out of the serving bowl at Hometown Buffet with the football squad. Those images kept Carolyn and Debbie laughing so much on the return trip that I think their ribs hurt this morning.
Pictures will follow.
Starting off an hour late on Friday at 11:30, we motored up to SLO in the back seat of Steph's Solara (Steve and she had traded cars for a couple of weeks) and made it up to the Apple Farm Inn and checked in only to find our rooms rather small and disappointing to Debbie who had stayed there a number of other times in the much larger rooms. After Debbie and Carolyn talked with the front desk, we moved into the main inn for Friday night only at the same rate as the smaller room. This room had a bigger sitting area, a bed you could easily get around, a closet (not just an armoire), a bathroom with a tub, and luxurious robes! Much nicer.
We headed into SLO for dinner at Firestones for burgers and beers while watching the college crowd begin to assemble for a later night than we four were up for. Then back to the Inn for a good night's sleep.
We met for breakfast at 9:30 at the Apple Farm restaurant for a big breakfast and then we headed off to the quick draw competition that was being held at the mission. The artists including Robin Cloud (Carolyn's art teacher) had 1 1/2 hours in which to sketch, paint and frame a piece for the competition. It was fun to see how good they all were and their various "takes" on the same general area. At noon, they began an outdoor auction and while we tried to acquire a couple of them, they often went for several hundred dollars more than we were willing to pay. Most went from $600 to $1500.
After watching about 2/3's of the auction, we headed into the foothills for wine tasting. We sampled a few whites, but mostly reds from several wineries as we enjoyed the rolling hill vistas and warm temperatures modified later in the day by a slight sea breeze. We bought a few bottles for our new wine refrig and some argon gas to "seal" those occasional unfinished bottles. Then back to the Inn (and our new smaller, original rooms) to change and head to the evening art auction and buffet.
Skewered chicken, sausage and beef with asparagus, salads and wine from Edna Vineyards (where we had visited earlier in the day) provided us with our evening sustenance as we viewed three pieces from each of the 50 or so artists that were available for silent auction beginning with a reserve price. Most of the reserve prices were $900 and above with only a few less than that so we just enjoyed mingling and viewing with no buying.
We finished up the evening having desert at ColdStone and visiting bubble gum alley where tens of thousands of pieces of gum have been deposited along 100' of a very narrow alley as 'tributes' from students over three of four decades. No one wanted to touch the wall!
Sunday morning we had breakfast in bed and checked out at noon and headed up to Templeton to meet Dave and Tim, friends of Steph and Manny from Cal Poly, to visit Dave's workplace - Justin Vineyards. A long drive through two lane, rolling hills following these former offensive lineman led us to a spectacular winery and small inn. Dave had arranged for lunch which was excellent and then led us through the winery and the cellars which are carved out of the hillside.
Dave is the Cellar Master in charge of the thousands of barrels of wine stacked five or more high and which in December had cascaded down after a 6.5 earthquake ruining about 200 barrels of wine and leading to their Orphan bottles which were delicious mixes of a wide variety of reds. Back in the tasting room, we joined the wine club and found a former SMCHS 2000 grad pouring behind the counter. Small world.
Steve continued his driving duties which I thoroughly enjoyed as we left late and headed home with a quick stop at Peabody's in Montecito for dinner and then onto to Torrance, where we traded out cars with Steph at around 11 and made it home at midnight. The only problem was the 5:30 start to this Monday morning.
We laughed a lot and just enjoyed each other's company and heard tales from the SLO days about Manny and his 20x20 at In N Out and licking chocolate pudding out of the serving bowl at Hometown Buffet with the football squad. Those images kept Carolyn and Debbie laughing so much on the return trip that I think their ribs hurt this morning.
Pictures will follow.
Friday, October 01, 2004
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Dan the New Jeb
From hughhewitt.com, and in reference to my earlier post on Dan Rather, I thought some of my older readers would enjoy this reach into our cultural time capsule to adapt this TV theme song to the current situation at SeeBS.
Courtesy of Bud Vesta:
The Ballad of Dan Rather
(Sung to the tune from the Beverly Hillbillies)
Come and listen to my story 'bout a man named Dan,
The documents were fake and he didn't give a damn;
He put 'em on the air, an' he thought he'd done the job,
But up from the web come a howlin' mob.
Blogs, that is.
Web logs.
Checkin' facts.
Well, the first thing you know ol' Dan's a-runnin' fast;
Made a false report an' it bit him in the ass;
He said 'dog-gonnit, I done thought I'd get away!'
But it turned out to be his a-reckonin' day.
Busted, that is.
Red-faced.
Mud in the eye.
Well, now it's time to say goodbye to Dan and all his men;
And they would like to shoot you folks for turnin' them in;
You're all invited back next week to watch the Evening News,
And see which correspondent's picked to fill Dan's empty shoes.
Y'all come back, now, hear?
Courtesy of Bud Vesta:
The Ballad of Dan Rather
(Sung to the tune from the Beverly Hillbillies)
Come and listen to my story 'bout a man named Dan,
The documents were fake and he didn't give a damn;
He put 'em on the air, an' he thought he'd done the job,
But up from the web come a howlin' mob.
Blogs, that is.
Web logs.
Checkin' facts.
Well, the first thing you know ol' Dan's a-runnin' fast;
Made a false report an' it bit him in the ass;
He said 'dog-gonnit, I done thought I'd get away!'
But it turned out to be his a-reckonin' day.
Busted, that is.
Red-faced.
Mud in the eye.
Well, now it's time to say goodbye to Dan and all his men;
And they would like to shoot you folks for turnin' them in;
You're all invited back next week to watch the Evening News,
And see which correspondent's picked to fill Dan's empty shoes.
Y'all come back, now, hear?
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Poker Part 2
Well, I think our Texas Hold 'em poker night will become a monthly male bonding, take your money, eat chips, kid each other night out with the "boys".
We met at Jim Hill's home last night and played with a new set of 11.5 gram clay poker chips which Paul had purchased (along with its own stainless steel carrying case) from Costco. Taking a short time out to watch the Angels hold off Texas in the bottom of the ninth with bases loaded and no outs and win 5 to 3, we played until 11. Carolyn called around 10 pm to tell me that the electricity was out in our neighborhood for the second night in a row, but with candles burning and my luck holding, I convinced her she would be OK until I got home. She is now worried that I like poker more than I love her (totally untrue), but thankfully the lights came back on around twenty minutes later and before I got home.
The cards were good to me for the second time (along with a new found skill - ha!) and I came home with $34 more than I left with. So I think I garnered some grace from Carolyn. Good thing I didn't lose!
We met at Jim Hill's home last night and played with a new set of 11.5 gram clay poker chips which Paul had purchased (along with its own stainless steel carrying case) from Costco. Taking a short time out to watch the Angels hold off Texas in the bottom of the ninth with bases loaded and no outs and win 5 to 3, we played until 11. Carolyn called around 10 pm to tell me that the electricity was out in our neighborhood for the second night in a row, but with candles burning and my luck holding, I convinced her she would be OK until I got home. She is now worried that I like poker more than I love her (totally untrue), but thankfully the lights came back on around twenty minutes later and before I got home.
The cards were good to me for the second time (along with a new found skill - ha!) and I came home with $34 more than I left with. So I think I garnered some grace from Carolyn. Good thing I didn't lose!
Monday, September 27, 2004
Lakeside Living
Carolyn was away on Friday night on a Community Bible Study retreat up in Costa Mesa and so I watched a college football game and the Ultimate Fighting Championships. The UFC involves boxing (without padded gloves), kick boxing and judo. Totally brutal as contestants use elbows, rabbit punches and submission holds to subdue their opponent. It makes boxing look like it's for sissies. You wouldn't want to find yourself in an alley with any of these guys.
Saturday I tackled mowing the lawn and cleaning the yard before joining the Bethkes and Dennis' brother and sister-in-law for the annual visual scavenger hunt on the lake. We had about 15 boats participating by gleaning answers to clues about various architectural details or paraphernalia at various lakefront homes. Using our years of experience, we won by a large margin and collected our prize of Starbucks coffee at the BBQ at the Club that followed.
I got home around 8:30 and then watched both the Arkansas-Alabama and the Stanford-USC games that I had earlier digitally recorded. Using the fast forward extensively, I watched both Arkansas and USC win in just over an hour! You don't realize how much wasted time there is in a televised football game until you use a DVR. Carolyn got back around 9:30 and we headed to bed.
Sunday, Pastor Mike continued his preaching on Corinthians 15 and death as the consequence of man's sin - both spiritually and biologically. Then we stopped by Wanda's to trim a few trees in her front yard and went to Proud Marys in Dana Point harbor for lunch. The weekend was beautiful and the air just the right temperature as we dined by the harbor. We finished up the afternoon back on the Bethke's deck just talking and having a few glasses of wine as the sunset colored wispy clouds with reds and purples. A pleasant finish to a weekend.
Saturday I tackled mowing the lawn and cleaning the yard before joining the Bethkes and Dennis' brother and sister-in-law for the annual visual scavenger hunt on the lake. We had about 15 boats participating by gleaning answers to clues about various architectural details or paraphernalia at various lakefront homes. Using our years of experience, we won by a large margin and collected our prize of Starbucks coffee at the BBQ at the Club that followed.
I got home around 8:30 and then watched both the Arkansas-Alabama and the Stanford-USC games that I had earlier digitally recorded. Using the fast forward extensively, I watched both Arkansas and USC win in just over an hour! You don't realize how much wasted time there is in a televised football game until you use a DVR. Carolyn got back around 9:30 and we headed to bed.
Sunday, Pastor Mike continued his preaching on Corinthians 15 and death as the consequence of man's sin - both spiritually and biologically. Then we stopped by Wanda's to trim a few trees in her front yard and went to Proud Marys in Dana Point harbor for lunch. The weekend was beautiful and the air just the right temperature as we dined by the harbor. We finished up the afternoon back on the Bethke's deck just talking and having a few glasses of wine as the sunset colored wispy clouds with reds and purples. A pleasant finish to a weekend.
Friday, September 24, 2004
Pictures of the Week
I thought I'd occasionally post pictures from my personal favorites on my blog for your viewing pleasure. These are invariably from vacations over the years. The two below are from Yosemite during the winter. Ashley might remember this time as the time I slipped on an icy covered rock by a stream and destroyed Carolyn's camera in the process.
I've reduced the pixels in deference to those without cable or DSL connections.
I've reduced the pixels in deference to those without cable or DSL connections.
Site Meter
I found another website (www.sitemeter.com) that you web designers might be interested in. It tracks traffic to your website or blog to let you know where people are coming from who visit, how long they stay, etc. Check it out.
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Beer for Soldiers
I came across this website today - www.beerforsoldiers.com - where an enterprising soldier has utilized the web to solicit that others (we here in the States) can buy our soldiers, airmen and marines a beer, or a pitcher, or even a keg via PayPal. It can be our way of saying thanks that they can utilize when they take R&R outside of Iraq.
Perhaps, Bryce and Jonathan could establish a similar website for seminarianbrews or some other such witty endeavor to obtain funding for brewskis, books, tuition or the occasional vacation weekend. What I want to see here are proposed names of the website and mission statements! Cheers!!
Perhaps, Bryce and Jonathan could establish a similar website for seminarianbrews or some other such witty endeavor to obtain funding for brewskis, books, tuition or the occasional vacation weekend. What I want to see here are proposed names of the website and mission statements! Cheers!!
If It Bleeds, It Leads
The title is a well-established media standard that those of us in Southern California often hear trumpeted on local news telecasts to the exclusion of thoughtful dialogue or investigative reporting. So, we'll hear about the latest car chase, child abuse, road rage while the station is on 'Storm Watch' for the expected half inch of rain or stories of 'Firestorms' with the first 3000 acre fire. It is therefore not unexpected that nearly all the stories coming out of Iraq are of the latest car bomb, suicide bomber or latest American casualty.
I don't mean to minimize any casualty that occurs there for the loss for the father, mother, or sibling of the deceased is immense and a heartbreak, but on a global scale we often miss the bigger picture. This e-mail from an Army captain in Iraq was posted on www.hughhewitt.com and I thought it helps balance the deaths and injuries that often attract our attention (I've edited it slightly by eliminating a few paragraphs).
" Dear friends,
In the wake of all the unbelievable things that are being said about this war right now in the media, I thought that I might pass along a couple of things that won't make it to the news.
First, I would like to remind you all about the actual size of this country. It is roughly the size of California. Baghdad is the biggest city with a population of about 6 million, so it is a little bit bigger than Los Angeles. The reason why I tell you that is because the media is leading you all to believe that this entire country is "tumbling into complete chaos." Please don't believe that! What is happening in Baghdad and parts of Fallujah and Sammarah (A combined total population of 7 million) does not reflect what is being done around the whole country.
What is happening in Baghdad does not reflect what is happening in Southern Iraq where the UK brigade are continuing to "win the hearts and minds" of the people in Al Basrah and Al Hillah. Or ask my friend Jake who is stationed near An Nasiriyah. In one of his emails to me, he sent me a picture of him riding on a camel and this statement, "Here's me doing some crazy stuff with some of the locals. They are great people and so friendly. 90% of this country are people like these who simply want a safe country to live in. "
You see, the violence that is reported in and around the largest city in this country overshadows the incredible things that are being done by the Republic of Korea Army in the northern town of Irbil. Does anybody out there know that currently Iraq is the 2nd most heavily mined country in the world and that there are over 130 demining projects going on in the border towns between Iraq and Iran? Do the reporters do stories about the half a million tons of captured enemy ammunition that we have destroyed, never to be put into the hands of evil men again? Or the thousands of minefields that are being cleared everyday so little children in cities like Irbil, Kirkuk, and Halabjah can play and run in the fields with no fear of accidentally stepping on a mine ?
I still believe, with all my heart, that the majority of people here want us here. They may feel like we are occupiers, but they also understand it is necessary for the time being . I guess I don't know how else to say it. It's just frustrating because I'm the one over here. I see the work that we are doing. I listen to the daily operations briefs. I read the intel summaries. And I can say as a former history major who studied all of the major wars we have fought in, this is not another Vietnam. Even though I am just a Captain on a Corps level staff, you have to take my word on that.
But let me get back to the original reason of why I am writing you.
Last night at Bible Study, many of my friends were praising the Lord for some "near misses." There was my dear friend Erika , a signal officer for one of the military intelligence battalions on post. She shared that their sister battalion had made the decision to drive to the qualification range about ten miles from base. Well, in light of the insurgent activity that has happened in the last week, you can probably uses what happened. Their convoy was attacked with an IED and small arms. Through tears of joy, she told us about her friend who was the convoy commander. The explosion from the IED sent shrapnel through their vehicle. One piece went right past his head so close that he heard the whistling of it in his ear. It dug three inches into the back of the vehicle. Miraculously, no one was hurt.
But my favorite story to tell you is the one that Natalie shared. She told us about a convoy that was traveling in Baghdad yesterday and it was hit by an IED. Unfortunately, one of the vehicles was so close to the seat of the explosion that it injured two of the soldiers in the vehicle. A Mercedes who had passed the convoy, saw the explosion in his rear view mirror and turned around to double back. When he got there, he got out of his car to help. The soldiers, all pulling security now as the medic tried to tend to the wounded, pointed their weapons at him, unsure of his intentions. The Iraqi man put up his hands and said in broken English, "I'm here to help!" He pointed to his cell phone in his hand. "Please tell me who I should call for help." The soldiers lowered their weapons and gave him the number to call. In the meantime, another vehicle came up behind the convoy. An Iraqi man ran over to the exploded vehicle where the soldier lay on the ground. With his hands raised as well, he told them, "I am a doctor, please let me help." With tears in her eyes, Natalie told us that he probably saved that soldier's life.
My friends, I know that there are evil people over here. Zarqawi and his men seem to have this country in a terror that is something out of a B-rate horror movie, complete with machetes and beheadings. But they are a minority that knows how to play to the media! And these evil people don't simply target the military. Were they to do so, I might have a little respect for them as they would consider themselves Freedom Fighters attempting to fight their formidable foe. But they don't care who they fight or who they kill. They lash out at anyone who does not believe the way they do - to include innocent Muslims.
I stand with my Commander-in-Chief and say that we should stay the course. The only exit strategy we should have is one where Iraq is a free, democratic, self-governing country in good relations with its neighbors, and its citizens enjoy the freedom of traveling the highways free of exploding cars, and devoid of terrorists who have come to see Iraq as their playground.
Thank you all again for your continued prayers and encouraging responses. Whenever I get down, I think about all of you, and I'm proud to be here serving for you. May God continue to bless our great nation, and may He give you peace.
Your faithful soldier in the Lord,
Don "
I don't mean to minimize any casualty that occurs there for the loss for the father, mother, or sibling of the deceased is immense and a heartbreak, but on a global scale we often miss the bigger picture. This e-mail from an Army captain in Iraq was posted on www.hughhewitt.com and I thought it helps balance the deaths and injuries that often attract our attention (I've edited it slightly by eliminating a few paragraphs).
" Dear friends,
In the wake of all the unbelievable things that are being said about this war right now in the media, I thought that I might pass along a couple of things that won't make it to the news.
First, I would like to remind you all about the actual size of this country. It is roughly the size of California. Baghdad is the biggest city with a population of about 6 million, so it is a little bit bigger than Los Angeles. The reason why I tell you that is because the media is leading you all to believe that this entire country is "tumbling into complete chaos." Please don't believe that! What is happening in Baghdad and parts of Fallujah and Sammarah (A combined total population of 7 million) does not reflect what is being done around the whole country.
What is happening in Baghdad does not reflect what is happening in Southern Iraq where the UK brigade are continuing to "win the hearts and minds" of the people in Al Basrah and Al Hillah. Or ask my friend Jake who is stationed near An Nasiriyah. In one of his emails to me, he sent me a picture of him riding on a camel and this statement, "Here's me doing some crazy stuff with some of the locals. They are great people and so friendly. 90% of this country are people like these who simply want a safe country to live in. "
You see, the violence that is reported in and around the largest city in this country overshadows the incredible things that are being done by the Republic of Korea Army in the northern town of Irbil. Does anybody out there know that currently Iraq is the 2nd most heavily mined country in the world and that there are over 130 demining projects going on in the border towns between Iraq and Iran? Do the reporters do stories about the half a million tons of captured enemy ammunition that we have destroyed, never to be put into the hands of evil men again? Or the thousands of minefields that are being cleared everyday so little children in cities like Irbil, Kirkuk, and Halabjah can play and run in the fields with no fear of accidentally stepping on a mine ?
I still believe, with all my heart, that the majority of people here want us here. They may feel like we are occupiers, but they also understand it is necessary for the time being . I guess I don't know how else to say it. It's just frustrating because I'm the one over here. I see the work that we are doing. I listen to the daily operations briefs. I read the intel summaries. And I can say as a former history major who studied all of the major wars we have fought in, this is not another Vietnam. Even though I am just a Captain on a Corps level staff, you have to take my word on that.
But let me get back to the original reason of why I am writing you.
Last night at Bible Study, many of my friends were praising the Lord for some "near misses." There was my dear friend Erika , a signal officer for one of the military intelligence battalions on post. She shared that their sister battalion had made the decision to drive to the qualification range about ten miles from base. Well, in light of the insurgent activity that has happened in the last week, you can probably uses what happened. Their convoy was attacked with an IED and small arms. Through tears of joy, she told us about her friend who was the convoy commander. The explosion from the IED sent shrapnel through their vehicle. One piece went right past his head so close that he heard the whistling of it in his ear. It dug three inches into the back of the vehicle. Miraculously, no one was hurt.
But my favorite story to tell you is the one that Natalie shared. She told us about a convoy that was traveling in Baghdad yesterday and it was hit by an IED. Unfortunately, one of the vehicles was so close to the seat of the explosion that it injured two of the soldiers in the vehicle. A Mercedes who had passed the convoy, saw the explosion in his rear view mirror and turned around to double back. When he got there, he got out of his car to help. The soldiers, all pulling security now as the medic tried to tend to the wounded, pointed their weapons at him, unsure of his intentions. The Iraqi man put up his hands and said in broken English, "I'm here to help!" He pointed to his cell phone in his hand. "Please tell me who I should call for help." The soldiers lowered their weapons and gave him the number to call. In the meantime, another vehicle came up behind the convoy. An Iraqi man ran over to the exploded vehicle where the soldier lay on the ground. With his hands raised as well, he told them, "I am a doctor, please let me help." With tears in her eyes, Natalie told us that he probably saved that soldier's life.
My friends, I know that there are evil people over here. Zarqawi and his men seem to have this country in a terror that is something out of a B-rate horror movie, complete with machetes and beheadings. But they are a minority that knows how to play to the media! And these evil people don't simply target the military. Were they to do so, I might have a little respect for them as they would consider themselves Freedom Fighters attempting to fight their formidable foe. But they don't care who they fight or who they kill. They lash out at anyone who does not believe the way they do - to include innocent Muslims.
I stand with my Commander-in-Chief and say that we should stay the course. The only exit strategy we should have is one where Iraq is a free, democratic, self-governing country in good relations with its neighbors, and its citizens enjoy the freedom of traveling the highways free of exploding cars, and devoid of terrorists who have come to see Iraq as their playground.
Thank you all again for your continued prayers and encouraging responses. Whenever I get down, I think about all of you, and I'm proud to be here serving for you. May God continue to bless our great nation, and may He give you peace.
Your faithful soldier in the Lord,
Don "
Monday, September 20, 2004
Vacations
Perhaps it was Carolyn's recent trip to Scotland or watching the Amazing Race or the article in Traveler about special places throughout the world that got me to thinking of where we should plan our next vacations.
In May, we're planning to spend about 10 to 12 days in Zihuatanejo, Mexico at the Club Intrawest resort to which we belong. But what then? With Ashley and Bryce planning to spend Christmas and January with us, the highlands will not be seeing Tor for a while. Will Ash and Bryce spend the summer in the USA or will they again summer in Edinburgh? If so, where might we hook up with them in the fall or winter of 2005?
I started thinking about places I'd like to visit and came up with this initial list: New Zealand; Australia; Bali (again); Alaska cruise; Seychelles; African safari; Costa Rica (check out retirement locations); Holland/Belgium; Germany and Switzerland; coast of Italy; sailing the isles of Greece; Turkey; Micronesia; Hawaii (a favorite); western Canada; East coast of USA.
I'm open for suggestions for my "rest of my life" list with recommendations welcome.
In May, we're planning to spend about 10 to 12 days in Zihuatanejo, Mexico at the Club Intrawest resort to which we belong. But what then? With Ashley and Bryce planning to spend Christmas and January with us, the highlands will not be seeing Tor for a while. Will Ash and Bryce spend the summer in the USA or will they again summer in Edinburgh? If so, where might we hook up with them in the fall or winter of 2005?
I started thinking about places I'd like to visit and came up with this initial list: New Zealand; Australia; Bali (again); Alaska cruise; Seychelles; African safari; Costa Rica (check out retirement locations); Holland/Belgium; Germany and Switzerland; coast of Italy; sailing the isles of Greece; Turkey; Micronesia; Hawaii (a favorite); western Canada; East coast of USA.
I'm open for suggestions for my "rest of my life" list with recommendations welcome.
Friday, September 17, 2004
What's It Feel Like on the Other Side of the Desk, Dan?
As most who keep abreast of current events via the news or the web will be aware, on Wednesday September 8th, 60 Minutes II featured a breaking story purporting to be backed by memos from 1972 and 1973 that suggested both that George W. Bush had disobeyed a direct order to take a flight physical for the Texas National Guard and that there was pressure from higher-ups to "sugar coat" his disobedience.
Well, within hours of the broadcast hosted by Dan Rather, the conservative weblogs (www.littlegreenfootballs.com, www.hughhewitt.com) exploded as they examined the principal evidence laid out in the broadcast (the memos) as it was proven that these memos were not typed on a 1970s era typewriter but on a computer using Microsoft Word. In addition to matching the font type, proportional spacing, superscript capability, and line spacing of Word, the memos included suspect addresses and PO boxes, and excluded features typical of the time such as the typist's initials, filing indices, and appropriate military abbreviations.
Yet, Dan clings tentatively to the "fact" that even though the documents are fake (or inauthentic in his terminology) the represent a real truth. I don't want Mr. Rather to determine truthfulness based on his perception. I'm much more comfortable with "just the facts" and the memos don't add anything to our knowledge of the truth since they are forgeries.
Had similar forged documents been published by Fox News or Rush Limbaugh about John Kerry's military service in Vietnam, or his first marriage, which suggested some aspect of his character that was less than honest/forthcoming, wouldn't the rest of the media rise in unison to denounce the broadcaster? How long could they last without a quick and loud mea culpa? Not very.
It's been 9 days since the broadcast and Dan is relatively silent other than to say the underlying facts are truthful. So how long before Dan succumbs to the reality that he was at best had and at worst complicit?
Any bets on when Dan announces his retirement?
Well, within hours of the broadcast hosted by Dan Rather, the conservative weblogs (www.littlegreenfootballs.com, www.hughhewitt.com) exploded as they examined the principal evidence laid out in the broadcast (the memos) as it was proven that these memos were not typed on a 1970s era typewriter but on a computer using Microsoft Word. In addition to matching the font type, proportional spacing, superscript capability, and line spacing of Word, the memos included suspect addresses and PO boxes, and excluded features typical of the time such as the typist's initials, filing indices, and appropriate military abbreviations.
Yet, Dan clings tentatively to the "fact" that even though the documents are fake (or inauthentic in his terminology) the represent a real truth. I don't want Mr. Rather to determine truthfulness based on his perception. I'm much more comfortable with "just the facts" and the memos don't add anything to our knowledge of the truth since they are forgeries.
Had similar forged documents been published by Fox News or Rush Limbaugh about John Kerry's military service in Vietnam, or his first marriage, which suggested some aspect of his character that was less than honest/forthcoming, wouldn't the rest of the media rise in unison to denounce the broadcaster? How long could they last without a quick and loud mea culpa? Not very.
It's been 9 days since the broadcast and Dan is relatively silent other than to say the underlying facts are truthful. So how long before Dan succumbs to the reality that he was at best had and at worst complicit?
Any bets on when Dan announces his retirement?
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Hump Day
Well, with Carolyn home Sunday night after 12 days in Scotland, life is slowly getting back to our kitchen-less "normal". Carolyn is still shifting time zones about three or four a day and is probably feeling the need to do too much too fast. Yesterday, she was just worn out and had to fight off a headache with the good kind of drugs.
Today she took in Gracie, our cat, to the vet to check out some scabs and found she has fleas, an infection, etc. After that bill, I'm thinking of putting Gracie on my group insurance plan! But hopefully, she'll be feeling a bit better.
Tomorrow we're going to start up our couples Bible study with a dinner out (a potluck that changed when we knew that no appliances would be operational in our kitchen) and a discussion of what we'd like to study/discuss this "semester". It's likely to be more relational as our last study was led by our own "Bible Answer Man" and there is a certain level of trepidation about following in his footsteps - sort of like being called up to the major leagues from little league. Any suggestions on topics, studies or authors?
As far as the kitchen is going, we figured out that with the new drywall, et al, they forgot to leave a register in the kitchen for air conditioning/heating. I talked with the contractor today and he says they'll be able to fix that without too much difficulty (hurrah)! Our cooktop, the last of the appliances is to arrive today, and after the electrician sets up the plugs, we should start to see appliances installed by the end of this week. Patience, patience.
Carolyn came home with a bunch of info on weight watchers from Ashley and I think we will both be counting points soon. She'll have to update me on what's allowed and how many points in a glass of Merlot and how big a slice of chocolate cake can I consume.
So much for our current events.
Today she took in Gracie, our cat, to the vet to check out some scabs and found she has fleas, an infection, etc. After that bill, I'm thinking of putting Gracie on my group insurance plan! But hopefully, she'll be feeling a bit better.
Tomorrow we're going to start up our couples Bible study with a dinner out (a potluck that changed when we knew that no appliances would be operational in our kitchen) and a discussion of what we'd like to study/discuss this "semester". It's likely to be more relational as our last study was led by our own "Bible Answer Man" and there is a certain level of trepidation about following in his footsteps - sort of like being called up to the major leagues from little league. Any suggestions on topics, studies or authors?
As far as the kitchen is going, we figured out that with the new drywall, et al, they forgot to leave a register in the kitchen for air conditioning/heating. I talked with the contractor today and he says they'll be able to fix that without too much difficulty (hurrah)! Our cooktop, the last of the appliances is to arrive today, and after the electrician sets up the plugs, we should start to see appliances installed by the end of this week. Patience, patience.
Carolyn came home with a bunch of info on weight watchers from Ashley and I think we will both be counting points soon. She'll have to update me on what's allowed and how many points in a glass of Merlot and how big a slice of chocolate cake can I consume.
So much for our current events.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Wait, Wait, Wait
The worst part of this kitchen remodeling is the waiting. Whether it's for cabinets to be built or waiting for subcontractors to arrive or, this morning, appliances to be delivered. I was told to expect the appliances to be delivered early - around 9. Of course, at 8:30 I received a call saying the delivery would happen between 10 and 11. Not much I could do but read Angle of Repose while I waited.
The truck arrived at 11:20 and didn't finish unloading for about fifteen minutes and with everything but the cooktop! I've called to find out what the issue was on that and when it was going to be available, but as yet haven't heard.
So, needless to say, my day at work is a bit abbreviated! I miss my general contractor (Carolyn)!
The truck arrived at 11:20 and didn't finish unloading for about fifteen minutes and with everything but the cooktop! I've called to find out what the issue was on that and when it was going to be available, but as yet haven't heard.
So, needless to say, my day at work is a bit abbreviated! I miss my general contractor (Carolyn)!
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Flooring
When I arrived home on Tuesday night, I was surprised to find the flooring guy had actually been there and had laid out most of the stone that did not need to be cut. Tonight I found a lot more done with just the grouting and a few odd places like near the yet-to-be-delivered sink/dishwasher cabinet to be filled in. I hope Carolyn likes it!! Just another day at the office and I'm having the second half of my Togo sandwich for dinner - no Indian curry for me. And appliances should arrive tomorrow morning - hopefully I can convince the stone guy to accept delivery. Cheers!
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Boring and Hot
This weekend was filled with too much empty time. Time that was expanded by the heat! It was over 100 on Sunday and in the mid-90s on Monday. It was even that hot on the beach in a number of places so I just stayed home without the air conditioner and tried to stay temperate.
Monday I tackled the gardening chores around 9 so I wouldn't fry and then went with the Bethkes to the champagne brunch at the club around 10:30. At least that way I ate. Watched Tiger try to overcome Singh's 3 stroke lead, tie him, then fall back again to three strokes and lose not only the tournament but the number one ranking he has had for over 5 years. Read some of the Angle of Repose and watched a few cop shows throughout the evening.
I had a contentious argument with myself on where I should eat dinner and decided on Mexican only to find La Fresca closed for Labor Day so I ended up at the deli. I'm learning how to use the DVR so I've set up a few series for recording - like the Amazing Race so Carolyn can watch it when she returns.
Today I'm back at work so at least I can busy myself with work in an air conditioned office and maybe I'll even be able to scrounge a free meal for lunch. At home, I'm hoping I'll see the flooring guy appear either today or tomorrow so we won't have to walk on old tile mastic as we walk into our home. We can hope.
Monday I tackled the gardening chores around 9 so I wouldn't fry and then went with the Bethkes to the champagne brunch at the club around 10:30. At least that way I ate. Watched Tiger try to overcome Singh's 3 stroke lead, tie him, then fall back again to three strokes and lose not only the tournament but the number one ranking he has had for over 5 years. Read some of the Angle of Repose and watched a few cop shows throughout the evening.
I had a contentious argument with myself on where I should eat dinner and decided on Mexican only to find La Fresca closed for Labor Day so I ended up at the deli. I'm learning how to use the DVR so I've set up a few series for recording - like the Amazing Race so Carolyn can watch it when she returns.
Today I'm back at work so at least I can busy myself with work in an air conditioned office and maybe I'll even be able to scrounge a free meal for lunch. At home, I'm hoping I'll see the flooring guy appear either today or tomorrow so we won't have to walk on old tile mastic as we walk into our home. We can hope.
Sunday, September 05, 2004
Sunday Morning
Got a call from Carolyn just before leaving to church this morning to hear that all is going well - from the weather, to Bryce's driving a stick, to seeing the Queen at the Highland games. She just misses me - which is a good thing. And I miss her.
Went to the Orange street fair with the Rothschild's last night and walked about twenty blocks from our parking space to the Circle. Tons of people (many of them who carried tons) swarmed the adjacent streets listening to Irish bands or German polkas while eating foods of various ethnicities. People watching was a main event with more than a few "what were they thinking?" to "spandex should be a privilege not a right" to "Nice tattoo, hope you like fast food as an occupation".
Ron and Jane went with the Greek food while I picked up a couple of spicy tacos to go along with two beers for the night. Then I went crazy and purchased a big, ol' ceegar to enjoy on the patio today or tomorrow. Back to the Rothschild's for ice cream and to meet their dog Lacy who runs ten miles with Ron on Saturdays.
This morning Dan preached on the requirement of Christian community and connectedness as a Biblical directive. I sat with the Hawleys and behind the Hughes and we talked afterwards over donuts. Dennis and I are still talking about the sailboat idea, but figure we need four partners to cover the maintenance/monthly costs. John Elliott may be interested.
Today seems like it will be a real cooker so I'm leaving my gardening until early tomorrow.
Went to the Orange street fair with the Rothschild's last night and walked about twenty blocks from our parking space to the Circle. Tons of people (many of them who carried tons) swarmed the adjacent streets listening to Irish bands or German polkas while eating foods of various ethnicities. People watching was a main event with more than a few "what were they thinking?" to "spandex should be a privilege not a right" to "Nice tattoo, hope you like fast food as an occupation".
Ron and Jane went with the Greek food while I picked up a couple of spicy tacos to go along with two beers for the night. Then I went crazy and purchased a big, ol' ceegar to enjoy on the patio today or tomorrow. Back to the Rothschild's for ice cream and to meet their dog Lacy who runs ten miles with Ron on Saturdays.
This morning Dan preached on the requirement of Christian community and connectedness as a Biblical directive. I sat with the Hawleys and behind the Hughes and we talked afterwards over donuts. Dennis and I are still talking about the sailboat idea, but figure we need four partners to cover the maintenance/monthly costs. John Elliott may be interested.
Today seems like it will be a real cooker so I'm leaving my gardening until early tomorrow.
Friday, September 03, 2004
Kitchen Update
Got home a little early this Friday afternoon (Labor Day weekend) expecting to find much progress and a garage full of appliances. No such luck!! I had a voice mail from the appliance vendor that there had been a problem with charging our credit/debit card with the last charge and so they had been unable to deliver the oven, range, refrigerator, etc. Of course, we gave them our credit card info three or four days ago so we thought all was in order. I've left a message for her and hope to hear from her tomorrow so we can straighten it all out along with having someone here to sign for them. Carolyn will probable fire me as a superintendent.
And then I found that Gracie had escaped the house sometime during the day and didn't want to come back in for a while. She finally relented, however, and 'graced' me with her presence inside.
But RDS had completed some additional cabinet work but they need some missing pieces and have so informed Kathleen. It looks like tile will begin on Wednesday with appliances hopefully delivered Wed., Thur. or Friday so not nearly enough will be done for Carolyn's return but that is the joy of kitchen remodeling.
A few pictures to let you see the current job status.
And then I found that Gracie had escaped the house sometime during the day and didn't want to come back in for a while. She finally relented, however, and 'graced' me with her presence inside.
But RDS had completed some additional cabinet work but they need some missing pieces and have so informed Kathleen. It looks like tile will begin on Wednesday with appliances hopefully delivered Wed., Thur. or Friday so not nearly enough will be done for Carolyn's return but that is the joy of kitchen remodeling.
A few pictures to let you see the current job status.
Poker Night
I kept checking on how Carolyn's and Wanda's flight was progressing via the United web site. I was expecting to hear from someone that all had gone well, but didn't hear until I got home to find a sweet e-mail from Ashley that they had got in to Edinburgh just fine and had taken a driving tour around the city and visited Ashley and Bryce's flat before dinner at Pizza Express and into bed around 9 or 10.
Well, with the wife out of town, I decided to have the boys over for a night of high stakes Texas Hold 'Em with whiskey and cigars. Ok, no whiskey or cigars, but we had a good time anyway and I ended up with a 68.8% return on my initial investment! I think we may have to set up a monthly event. The only downer was to find this a.m. that my rear tire was nearly flat so I scoured the house and finally found keys to Carolyn's BMW to make the morning commute.
Just a little work was done on the kitchen yesterday with a little fripperish (?) and the glass cabinet doors installed. Today, the appliances should arrive, so maybe I'll post pictures tomorrow.
Well, with the wife out of town, I decided to have the boys over for a night of high stakes Texas Hold 'Em with whiskey and cigars. Ok, no whiskey or cigars, but we had a good time anyway and I ended up with a 68.8% return on my initial investment! I think we may have to set up a monthly event. The only downer was to find this a.m. that my rear tire was nearly flat so I scoured the house and finally found keys to Carolyn's BMW to make the morning commute.
Just a little work was done on the kitchen yesterday with a little fripperish (?) and the glass cabinet doors installed. Today, the appliances should arrive, so maybe I'll post pictures tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Carolyn's Leaving!
Not me, at least only for a short while, but to Scotland with Wanda. I hope that they have a great trip with good weather and plenty of time to visit both Ashley and Bryce but also some of Scotland's wonderful castles, villages, museums, shops (of course) and restaurants. Carolyn will be carrying special hugs from me for Ashley and Bryce.
As for me, pray that I may survive my enforced bachelorhood without overdoing the drive-thru route and may be as half as good a general contractor as Carolyn. God speed!!
As for me, pray that I may survive my enforced bachelorhood without overdoing the drive-thru route and may be as half as good a general contractor as Carolyn. God speed!!
Monday, August 30, 2004
Cabinets Today?
The drywall was finished in the kitchen on Saturday and the expectation is that today the cabinets will be unpacked and laid out. Hurray! Maybe when I return home tonight, it will begin to look like a kitchen again.
A couple pictures below of our kitchen in its current state and of outside cooking arrangement. Camping on Islamare lake at a campsite just off the lakefront.
A couple pictures below of our kitchen in its current state and of outside cooking arrangement. Camping on Islamare lake at a campsite just off the lakefront.
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