A Quick Trip in the Way-Back Machine

Happy Easter! (1968 style)

I found this little gem in amongst some slides from long, long ago, and I've been saving it for my Easter greeting post. Weren't we the dapper threesome? Andy's grimace makes one wonder if it's the handcuffs or shoes that are too tight. Check out the bow tie! Cute!

Many thanks to Mom & Dad for documenting these special occasions and fashion of the day.

1st post of 2009 - Bahamas

Here are pix from the cruise that Leigh Ann & I took after my graduation in Feb. It was my first cruise, and I must say it was a true vacation. We had a fabulous time!

I would like to be able to say that all these pictures are "highlights" of our trip, but actually they were taken when the camera was conveniently nearby and/or one of us felt motivated enough to pick it up and push the button. Now that I think about it, I did all the photography except when I handed the camera to Leigh Ann and said "Take a picture of me now."

Relaxin' on the deck.......

Our stewards transformed our towels into animals every day!

Leigh Ann and her bucket o' beer.

One day we kayaked down a tidal creek which ended here,

we were accompanied by "The Asian Girl Who Never Shut Up"

in the white cap.

One of the racoons who joined us for sandwiches.....

at a beautiful beach....



where it was kinda chilly.


The beach is called Goldrock or Goldenrock or something

because of that rock out there in the water.

Why won't the wind stop blowing???????

Port Canaveral.

Cocoa beach on a beautiful (warm) day.

A Day in the Life

Saturday is typically the day we take care of the household chores.

Since Zim is one of the family, he does his part, mostly by "snoopervising."

It's only right.

"Good morning, boss! What have you got planned for me today?"

First, he makes his bed.

Then he helps prepare breakfast.

French toast? Yum!


We check out the morning paper.

Now it's time to get to work.

The bathroom....

....vacuuming the hardwoods.

"You missed a spot."

Get it? Spot?

Nap break.

Snack? For me?

"What's wrong with this darn vacuum?!

Let me in there...I'll fix it!"

A pile of steaks...the perfect ending to a productive day!

He earned it!

I'll try anything once.....or for a chance at 60 bucks.

I have been known to be a sucker for a challenge. All it takes is for someone to say "I bet you can't....." and I can't help myself. One day this summer, Eric said he'd give me $60 if I could swallow a tablespoon of cinnamon. He also indicated that he was certain that I couldn't do it. Well, I like cinnamon - on sticky buns, mixed with sugar on buttery toast, in my oatmeal - so if a little cinnamon is good, then a lot has to be better, right?

I was absolutely sure I was going to prove him wrong and swallow the cinnamon. I had never heard of anyone getting sick or dying from cinnamon poisoning, and I thought this was going to be the easiest 60 bucks I ever made. I almost felt a little guilty - like taking candy from a baby. I think my cocky attitude got into his head a little, and although he didn't say it, I sensed for a moment that he wanted to withdraw the offer.

He went ahead and prepared a heaping spoonful of cinnamon and Jon got the camera. Someone suggested we go out onto the deck. Here goes....

Let me make one thing perfectly clear - I do not recommend trying this, nor will I attempt it again. It burned like crazy - think 100 Red Hot Fireballs at once without the benefit of any sweetness. The cinnamon was so powdery/fine that it instantly absorbed all of the saliva in my mouth and sucked the rest out of my salivary glands, which only moistened about 10% of it. I thought if I could just hold on and "make some more spit" I would be able to moisten it enough to make it swallowable. In the meantime, it puffed up into my nose, and then when I started to cough, it went up higher. It felt like the bottom of my eyeballs were on fire. I think I did actually swallow a little of it, which of course burned my throat. I quickly realized that there was no way I was going to be able to swallow the stuff even if I could spittify it some more. That's when I went to the rail.

So the lesson I learned was........

.......................there was no lesson. The next time someone comes up with a kooky challenge, I'll be all over it, like a dog chasing a squirrel.

I had aspirated some of the cinnamon, so I coughed for a few days. My throat hurt for about that long. And when I blew my nose, well.......

I smelled like a car freshener for the rest of the day. That was nice.

Trick or Treat - Bwahahahahaha

This year I actually got to participate in the festivities, because I was not working or studying or some such nonsense. We had a nice evening for all the little (and not so little) ghouls and goblins and Darth Vaders and High School Musical Cheerleaders.

Raechel and Jon were in the Halloween spirit and decided to go as each other.

Leigh Ann was very generous with the "silver orb of chocolately deliciousness" for the youngsters who said BOTH "Trick or Treat" AND "Thank You."

However, the ones who failed to show the proper manners were whisked off to the dungeon.

Here she is showing a parent of one of the coarser urchins to the top of the "I don't know how to say 'thank you'"vat. He is going to try to retrieve his vile offspring from the foul goo.

Did I leave the iron plugged in?

We had some big excitement last week here in our neighborhood. Early Wednesday afternoon, Mary Ellen - the "Pet Pals" lady who walks some of our neighbors' dogs - called in a fire at a house just around the corner from us. I got home at 4:00 and the firefighters were still shooting water on it.

We haven't heard how the fire started, but it did start in the end townhouse (on the right) and spread to the next one, badly damaging both. The vinyl siding on the 1st house of the next set is melted also. No one was home, and no one was hurt.

Mary Ellen was long gone (she's got lots of other dogs to walk!) or I would have a picture of her, too!

I took the aerial photo from LA's helicopter.