We all make it 'til the end of the month~!

Well, almost all - two 'oops', one bike, one plane~~

Yesterday's Program -

Alert, attentive and adorable.

Sensory overload - reboot

We're doing something wrong...

Additions to the WIKI  are becoming more widespread, frequent and varied.

Mar 29, 2009 Sun

Leave town early for a quick trip to Tacoma, allowing plenty of time, and get there plenty early. Sightsee a bit. Dale Chihuly's work was on display -

The purpose of our trip was to attend a meeting of The General Society of Mayflower Descendants of WA. Ann's research into our family genealogy revealed that we are direct descendants of two of the (26) guys that came over on that leaky old boat. Ann had joined, awhile back. It appears that I will, too. In for an inch, and all that... About twelve percent of our population are Mayflower descendants.

We're trying to recall this fellow's name (Donald Wingerson)- the outgoing 'insert name of office here' (Immediate Past Governor).

Mar 28, 2009 Sat

The weekend arrives rather chilly and damp, limiting outdoor activities. However, small dogs can be just as easily entertained in the house.

A few years ago, while Fae was visiting, I was playing ball with Tizzy on the stairs. To a small dog, chasing her ball up and down the stairs is no different from racing across an open field. After watching for a while, Fae noted, "She's just like a real dog!"

Hmmmm...    We wonder if Evelyn is having any fun, over there in France?

Mar 26, 2009 Thu

The S.U.E. in action. This group continues to be strong - attracting new members, meeting once a week on Thursday, at 1:30 PM. It's ok to come on down and just listen, if you like.

Traveling to Japan? This will come in handy...

A lot of you younger folks probably won't recall the early days of Google...

This, the international space station - is becoming quite a fancy and high tech place~~ seen here with the latest solar panels installed.

Signage, of a sort~

Hardly seems very sporting --

Home of the Beatles... Evie in France

Mar 25, 2009 Wed

Comcast guy walks into Dick's, takes one look at the cable modem and says: 'Oh, THAT modem - nothing but trouble - we stopped using them a long time ago. Here, I'll get you a new one.' Slaps in new modem - Dick's computer AND router working just fine. This process took months to resolve, because everytime I complained to Comcast about the modem, they'd check it from their end (after I'd rebooted it and got it working) and say there was nothing wrong with it. Oh, well, all's well that ends well, I guess. Shame about buying a new router for no good reason, though... might have to speak with them about that.

Here's Evelyn's new friend, her Host family's daughter - Deborah. Evie will remain in France in another week or so...

Apparently, not everyone is overly joyed with Internet Explorer 8

Today's statistic - where the death penalty is most in use~

Where does your dog sleep?

Mar 24, 2009 Tue

Batting 500.

The 'flaky' router problem at Dick's turns out to be (after two hours on the phone with router tech)- bad modem. Comcast to deliver up new modem tomorrow, and then we sees what we shall see. Anyone need a router? I now have a spare... since we purchased a new one when Comcast kept insisting that their modem was not the culprit. It was.

On the plus side, our gas fireplace is back in working order - for ten bucks - the cost of a new thermocouple.

Ann receiving her diploma, for successfully completing the Police Academy Class.

The police drug sniffing dog gets his reward - playing tug of war with his handler~

Want to see where you'd come out if you tunneled through the earth from where you are now? That would be the spot antipodal to you

Mar 23, 2009 Mon

Happy new week, to you.

A shadow box Ann made, representing some pleasant childhood memories and experiences. The house her dad built in Jackson, MI. The lake property, with the beginnings of a cottage - the porch. Her dad, my dad and our grand dad went in together for the lake place, on Portage Lake in the Waterloo recreation area, between Ann Arbor and Jackson.

The toy mouse she has had ever since...

Thanks to Kurt - a way to make yourself crazy...
The Swinging Ball Game. Click on the ball and it will change colors. You'll change colors trying to do it, I'll venture - CLICK HERE to TRY IT

Continuing to fine tune this computer. So far, all the programs migrated over from the other computer are working, and the correct data seems to be in all the files. This is a relief and makes me very happy. Here are a couple pictures -- it was built by one of the younger computer geeks at the local computer store and is rather more flashy than something I might have built. Basically, it was constructed as a gaming computer, except now it no longer has the high end video card. 4 GB of RAM, speedy core duo chip, remain.

Mar 22, 2009 Sun

The hard economic times turn out to be a blessing in disguise on the personal level. The local computer store offers up a bargain I can't refuse, and I purchased a used computer. The last few days have been spent setting it up, which can be time consuming.

The bottom line is that it's working. The LapLink software once again transferred the heart and soul of my old computer (the one in which the hard drive failed) from Ann's computer to this new one. Amazing. Saves one the nuisance of reinstalling eight or nine years worth of software -- some of which wouldn't install from the installation CDs, anyway -- due to new and different operating systems over the years.

In other news -- Evelyn is in France! We gather in this, from her postings on Facebook, where she wrote:
'yes i am! i'll try and post pictures as soon as i can. i can't type very well because the keyboards are so different...but we got here earlier this afternoon and we've just been hanging out around cagnes sur mer all day! our host families picked us up at the airport and im going to school tomorrow!'

Ann has completed the citizens police Academy class, and received her credentials~

I know I had some more pictures to post, but I'm not quite that organized yet. Here's hoping your weekend has been pleasant. I did manage to get the grass cut, at least in the backyard.

Mar 19, 2009 Thu

Anna and a friend came to the uke class - and I didn't take a picture! Partly because Evelyn is learning my camera, to take to France- and partly I simply didn't think about having the phone cam...

Thanks for dropping by, girls~~

Here is one of the most fun things in a long time~~ Sort of like that game, 'SAND' - if you remember that - but with falling balls and sound -
Since it cannot really be adequately described, you'd be better to just CLICK HERE and try it!

What the heck happened in 1980? There was a mini recession...

Nothing is safe - not even your car~

This graphic depicts the areas or segments of the business community most likely to fail in the coming months... The larger the slice of the pie, the harder they will be hit.

Thanks to Paul -
Why we are in the shape we're in, and the sad but true way we go about solving the problem -

Mar 18, 2009 Wed

Ah, pictures at the Senior Center yesterday - thanks to Remit and friends -

It was thought I should wear this beret, for a spell - I did wear the flashy star, that once belonged to my sis.

More - perhaps the last, unless she sends some more - pix of Barb and Paul in HA~~

This is a cousin to our Great Great Granddad - my Gram's maiden name was Batesole, and it was also my dad's middle. A fellow named Ron Batesole, from the LA area, discovered this blog and got in touch, pointing us to this picture.

Thanks to Jack - the passenger platform at Chicago Union Station - about twenty five years ago. I worked there when it looked just like this...

I continue posting odds and ends to the WIKI, that wouldn't seem quite right in this venue. But, I can't seem to get anyone else interested...

A wiki is a webpage that anyone can edit, y'see, were they to be so inclined.

Mar 17, 2009 Tue

Richard and I played a few tunes for the good folks at the senior center. We had been rehearsing for the last several weeks, and therefore did not embarrass ourselves too severely. I daresay we were well received -- and enjoyed ourselves immensely in the process. Many thanks to Nick for his help with microphones and sound. And thanks to the folks that showed up for St. Patrick's Day lunch, for being such a great audience!

Alas, we didn't get any pictures~

Another in the Schwulst Hawaii series - while visiting the local smoothie stand, Paul realized that it would be he, providing the power to generate the electricity to run the blender - and he did.

Signage -- of the decision-making variety~

We think this is on the level -- this bloke chose to have his finger replaced by flash memory of the USB sort -- giving a rather literal meaning to the commonly used term -- thumb drive.

Mar 16, 2009 Mon

Barb and Paul send along some pix - on the beach in HA, and Gideon teaching Paul to read! (I stole that line from Paul)

Thanks to Janet - some signs she encountered while snowshoeing in the Mountains near Stevens Pass -

Even the extremely wealthy took a hit when things began to drop -
Notice Michael Bloomberg - I want to know more about this guy... it seems he alone made money, rather than lost it.

Internet Explorer would still seem to be the browser of choice, out there...

However - YOU GUYS - my elite readers, decidedly fall into a more exclusive and rarified category - Firefox users abound! The graphic below reflects visitors to this website ~ you guys are so awesome!

This series of remotely operated electric switches (called the South Ladder) handles trains in and out of Union Station in Chicago, where I used to work. This picture is from about twenty five years ago, I'd guess - much of what is shown no longer exists - the bridge, the adjacent buildings, those locomotives. The switches themselves have been upgraded since this shot.

Mar 15, 2009 Sun

The weekend slips by...

We got in some musical time at Tim's this day. About eight players and as many listeners. Thanks to Gary for taking a few pix.
Richard led (as he does so well) the group in song~

Richard would be proud to see this, too - uke players at Skyline~ Laura, Anna and Debra. This was last month - Dick and Laura just back from HA.

Thanks to Laura for this Skyline Sunset, too-

Ann and I drove on up to Cap Sante, since Tim's house is on the way~

Always good to get home, where one is appreciated...

Signage: of the, 'Run that by me, again?' variety.

Mar 13, 2009 Fri

TGIF to all you working stiffs.

Richard and I got to test the sound system at the Center, where we have committed to play for 40 minutes next Tuesday. We have that many songs at our disposal, as long as we can use music. Many thanks to Nick for helping us get set up, soundwise~~

Ann has been attending twice weekly classes at the Police Department, called Citizens' Academy. Here she is doing fingerprinting.

Mar 11, 2009 Wed

Temperature is still not back to normal, but better. Certainly warm enough to get out on two wheels for a bit, after our ukulele class this afternoon. Here are Richard and Bill tuning up -- sorry for the poor quality...

The pleasant afternoons have the boaters out, too~

The Cathlemet is still in town - high and dry in the floating drydock. It looks as though she's been spewing rocks, but they are on a barge anchored behind...

And they've started adding 'aft' sections to the new boat at Dakota~

Thanks to Kurt - a huge Russian bomber from early WWII - that actually flew, but never saw service. Probably a good thing...

Leanings of the religious sort, in Europe~

Mar 11, 2009 Wed

The week is getting away from us. After the month starting out so nicely (60 degree temps) a real cold snap has set in, with temperatures in the teens and actual snow on the ground. Dick and Laura certainly picked a good time to visit warmer climes.

It's deceptive -- so sunny and bright -- and it's so cold. The doggies don't seem to mind...

Maybe someone can tell us what this is and what it's supposed to mean/do?

Now I forget who sent me this-- Kurt or Jim? Thank you -- I meant to post it yesterday while my mind was still working... AH! It was Kurt!
Keep both halves of your mind together, try this!

Do you find anything of interest on the wiki?

Mar 08, 2009 Sun

Oddities from here and there...
Some things are hard to anticipate~

Good enough for me~

They're white, they're soft, they look so cute -- they're bears!

I like this crumb catcher so much I might go out and get another bird! Well, okay -- not.

Bunkmates ~

Another in the, Make up my mind series...

Your tax dollars at work_

Mar 06, 2009 Fri

Having come to the sad realization that Ann is allergic to woodsmoke -- we decided to turn this old wood burner into yard art. Quite possibly, this will be the last fire in its belly. It will get moved off into the garden, and perhaps spout flowers instead of flame.
Alas, what winter (and the dogs) have done to my lawn!

We've been having fun with Google's auto suggest feature. In view of the number one response to, 'I have', it doesn't come as too much of a shock to find what the most popular answer is, to: 'I need'.

We are always looking for ways to get our minds around large numbers - in this case a trillion dollars. this website helped~

This might be a train oops, or a truck oops -- either way, the train will always win. This guy parked a bit too close to the tracks~~

Mar 05, 2009 Thu

We've mentioned before that our dog Tizzy seems to have an unusual fascination -- feet. She can sit and watch feet for quite a long time, especially if toes are in motion -- twitching a bit. If nothing moves, she finally reaches out with her paw and gives a poke to try and restore some life.

It's bad enough, probably, that our dog is so easily entertained -- but I wonder what it says about me -- that I'm just as fascinated by the whole thing?

Lemme' go! I must get back to FEETS!

About as interesting as it gets:

Mar 03, 2009 Tue

In the category; airplane~ From Jeroen, posting at the Ptarmigan Nest -- updates on a 737 crash in his neck of the woods.

Thanks to Kurt -
Airbus -- I am your father~

Hey! Who's that behind the lens? Why, it's Evelyn -- shooting out at Washington Park over the weekend. We hope to learn more about this ongoing project of hers...
Note: Photo removed at subject's request.

In the category; train
From Jack -

Usually, if two trains impact the result is the familiar 'Z' shaped derailment, with cars going first this way and then that way. Less frequently, they go straight up!

Some amazing photographs are the result of being in the right place at the right time from the right angle. A page of these may be found by clicking here.

Although most of our windstorms come in November, in many places March is the month for kite flying and other windy stuff...

Ann has framed a few items, commemorating a fallen officer.

Very pleasant day -- got out and about a bit after some rehearsal at Richard's.

Saw this reminder of the downturn of economic events -- as if another reminder was really needed...
A rather large yacht, the construction of which has been put on hold.

Mar 01, 2009 Sun

Now, it is nearly spring. Almost sixty today, with early sun. Kinda' clouded over in the PM, but still pleasant enough to get out for a bit with the doggies. We covered something over two miles, with Chico going pretty slow near the end, but he made it. The little dogs, that is, Tizzy's pups - now over a year old - take turns making Ann carry them, between stretches of walking on their own. What can I say... can you spell 'spoiled'?

This was about half way, by the water near the Guemes ferry.

Ann's 'imaginary' leash in her left hand is actually doggie treats...

With a good portion of the family in warmer climes, where there are palm trees aplenty, it made us feel good to at least be SEEN near one.

This was actually the other day - but could be post walk nap, for sure.

The economic slowdown effects the RR industry, too - engines in storage~

A little sanding, and my new skateboard will be good to go!

How do pigs save money?

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