There is a lot of energy in the air lately. I attribute most of it to the excitement that is being generated by the last week of school.
I remember my last weeks of school. No real instruction happening. Just fun and goofing off. Making plans with my friends for swimming, fishing, and dirt bike riding!
Well, not during the summer of '72 as my left leg was in a cast all summer from my Mother's Day accident. The cast went from my hip all the way to my toes. This was to immobilize my ankle. The doctor thought it was best to make it as hard as possible for me to use my leg without crutches, so it could have maximum time to heal. Of course that was the summer that we went all over Oregon and California on vacation and I had to hobble along on my crutches on all the "fun" hikes.
The kids are excited about being out of school and just hanging out. Playing video games, staying up late, sleepovers, and Legos. Lots and lots of Legos.
The big beginning to their summer is a trip to D.C. We have been invited to attend Boeing's anniversary party. There should be a lot of planes and pilots there for Dexter to get to know. Not to mention the flights to and from.
We are also going to a bunch of Museums in the VA., D.C., and MD. area. This will be somewhat of a "learning" vacation. Kind of like a fun summer school, but we can't tell the kids that.
Of course what the kids don't know...
Thanks to REM for the idea for the title.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
The Trek (not what you think)
Since I am a "nerd", I had to see the new Star Trek movie.
While I generally don't care for remakes, I do like it when a movie is made of TV shows that I enjoyed, either as a child or an adult.
Growing up in rural Oregon, we had 4 TV channels. One of them ran Star Trek every day of the week. On weekends we were treated to two episodes in a row, instead of the sparsely doled out singular episode week days.
I didn't really get into all the other variations of "Trek*", but I would watch them, IF there was absolutely nothing else on and I couldn't go to sleep. Although I have to admit that I did watch "TNG**" for a couple of years. I had to quit because I went into the Navy and did not get the luxury of the "boob toob" for about 4 months. After that, it didn't seem to matter.
I don't think that I would consider myself a "Trekker or Trekkie***", I consider myself a loyal fan. I enjoy most Science Fiction and some Sci-Fi, yuk yuk!
I think that this was one of the best adaptations that I have seen. They used a lot of the familiar quotes, phrases, terms and stereotypes****.
I liked it better than another recent TV to big screen movie I saw. I enjoyed Get Smart, but there wasn't enough of the "smart" dialog carry over from the series for me.
I like the idea of seeing the first movie in the series first. I am sure that there will be more Star Trek movies. I look forward to them, in the order they occur. I think that you know what I am talking about Mr Lucas. I enjoyed your movies as well, but I think my life would have been just as happy without the 3 prequals, not too mention I would have been about $25 bucks richer.
I've seen it twice now. Once by myself and once with the kids. I enjoyed it both times. They both enjoyed it, the first time.
Just so you know, in case you don't;
* Star Trek; The Next Generation (TNG), Star Trek; Deep Space Nine (DS9), Star Trek; Voyager (Voyager) Also Star Trek; The Animated Series (TAS, which I had to watch as we only had cartoons on Saturday morning back when I was a kid.) There are more movies and I think, another series, but this is most of the TV stuff.
**TNG- See * above
***Trekker/Trekkie/Trekking- I don't even know where to begin here. It is like a gang mentality when you mention one and not the other. Not to mention the riots that erupt at Science Fiction conventions when you choose one side over the other. Although, like chocolate, I don't believe there is a bad side. Look it up on Wiki.
****You've heard them. "I'm given' her all she's got", "live long and prosper", "I'm a doctor, not a (fill in the blank)". Aside from the familiar banter there was also the stereotypical; Kirk kissing a green woman, Kirk, Sulu, and unknown crew member leave the ship-unknown crew member dies.
I liked the instant familiarity the film gave me with the connection to my childhood days of watching it after school. It seemed like a logical choice for a movie ;)
While I generally don't care for remakes, I do like it when a movie is made of TV shows that I enjoyed, either as a child or an adult.
Growing up in rural Oregon, we had 4 TV channels. One of them ran Star Trek every day of the week. On weekends we were treated to two episodes in a row, instead of the sparsely doled out singular episode week days.
I didn't really get into all the other variations of "Trek*", but I would watch them, IF there was absolutely nothing else on and I couldn't go to sleep. Although I have to admit that I did watch "TNG**" for a couple of years. I had to quit because I went into the Navy and did not get the luxury of the "boob toob" for about 4 months. After that, it didn't seem to matter.
I don't think that I would consider myself a "Trekker or Trekkie***", I consider myself a loyal fan. I enjoy most Science Fiction and some Sci-Fi, yuk yuk!
I think that this was one of the best adaptations that I have seen. They used a lot of the familiar quotes, phrases, terms and stereotypes****.
I liked it better than another recent TV to big screen movie I saw. I enjoyed Get Smart, but there wasn't enough of the "smart" dialog carry over from the series for me.
I like the idea of seeing the first movie in the series first. I am sure that there will be more Star Trek movies. I look forward to them, in the order they occur. I think that you know what I am talking about Mr Lucas. I enjoyed your movies as well, but I think my life would have been just as happy without the 3 prequals, not too mention I would have been about $25 bucks richer.
I've seen it twice now. Once by myself and once with the kids. I enjoyed it both times. They both enjoyed it, the first time.
Just so you know, in case you don't;
* Star Trek; The Next Generation (TNG), Star Trek; Deep Space Nine (DS9), Star Trek; Voyager (Voyager) Also Star Trek; The Animated Series (TAS, which I had to watch as we only had cartoons on Saturday morning back when I was a kid.) There are more movies and I think, another series, but this is most of the TV stuff.
**TNG- See * above
***Trekker/Trekkie/Trekking- I don't even know where to begin here. It is like a gang mentality when you mention one and not the other. Not to mention the riots that erupt at Science Fiction conventions when you choose one side over the other. Although, like chocolate, I don't believe there is a bad side. Look it up on Wiki.
****You've heard them. "I'm given' her all she's got", "live long and prosper", "I'm a doctor, not a (fill in the blank)". Aside from the familiar banter there was also the stereotypical; Kirk kissing a green woman, Kirk, Sulu, and unknown crew member leave the ship-unknown crew member dies.
I liked the instant familiarity the film gave me with the connection to my childhood days of watching it after school. It seemed like a logical choice for a movie ;)
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Mother's Day
Happy Mother's Day.
I know it is a few days early, but if I don't do this now, I may be too tired or forget to do it later, you see we are having 2 days of neighborhood yard sale starting Friday morning at 7am sharp.
This is not about the coming Mother's Day, but a Mother's Day past.
It's 1972. I live in rural Oregon. I am 8 years old. I am in the second grade. I have a dirt bike that I ride almost everyday. This is how I get to my friends and just have fun and kill time as the Internet is almost 30 years away.
My mother works in Albany, about 35 minutes away. We live on a rural road next to a covered bridge, at the bottom of a small hill and a nice sweeping 90 degree corner.
For Mother's Day, I gave my mom a ride on my motorcycle. Probably more terror for her than a gift, but I was happy.
She left for work just before noon and I went to my friends house up the road on my motorcycle. Oh, how the times have changed!
About 3pm it started to rain and I decided to go home. I took off and headed to my house about a mile away. I usually would get going good and fast and whip around the corner go through the bridge, turn around on the other side of the bridge and then cross back and go home.
Well, being 8 years old I did not understand a lot about physics, in particular how they apply to wet roads and knobby motorcycle tires on pavement in a corner that has little to no banking. Lets just say it was like riding a block of ice on a teflon road with a 90 degree turn and no banking in the turn.
I lost control of my motorcycle about half way through the turn and slid into the guardrail. I flipped over the guardrail and landed about 30 below the road by the river on my back. My motorcycle, still apparently running, idled it's way into the middle of the bridge and fell over.
One of our neighbors that I saw on a regular basis as I rode by his house, saw my bike in the middle of the road and me nowhere to be seen. Knowing that I rarely left the side of my bike, he went to the house and asked my older sister if she knew where I was. She didn't. As far as she knew I was riding my motorcycle somewhere.
They started to look for me. Calling my name. I eventually became conscious that someone was calling my name and I answered back. I could not move. I couldn't figure out why then, but it would become apparent later.
I yelled to my sister that I couldn't move and she called the Sheriff. The Sheriff called the hospital in Albany and they dispatched an ambulance. Obviously before the ability to dial 911 for emergency services. We even had a party line that she had to convince them that this was a real emergency, not like some of the other emergencies that the party line was cleared for.
I was in and out of consciousness for a while and the next thing that I knew the ambulance was there. The EMTs climbed down the hill to assess my situation.
They found out why I could not move. I couldn't move for 2 reasons. Reason 1, my left leg was broken just above the ankle, and not looking too good. Reason number 2, the more important reason at least to me, my helmet was stuck to one of the bolts that came up out of the bridge footings. I could not move my head because my helmet had become one with the support. They unbuckled my helmet and I could move.
They put a splint on my leg, covered me with a blanket to keep me warm, and were getting ready to haul me up the hill when it started to sprinkle. As it started to sprinkle the EMT with me decided to cover me up all the way, that is he pulled the blanket over my head.
Apparently the Sheriff called my mom at work and she had been racing toward home, just to arrive as it started to sprinkle. They directed her to an area by the guard rail that you could see me from, and as she looked down, I was just getting my head covered up.
"OH GOD! MY BABY IS DEAD!"!!! Came the blood curdling scream that brought me back to semi-consciousness.
I flipped the cover off of my head and yelled back to my mom. "No I'm not mom, I'm OK"!
This was too much for her and she promptly passed out. On the way to the ground she struck her head on the guard rail.
When they finally got me into the ambulance, my mother was already there being treated for a concussion.
We rode to the hospital together on that Mother's Day. I don't think that she or I will ever forget that one. I never gave her another ride or even offered it. I did eventually get a bigger motorcycle, even though mine was not harmed in the accident. I was the cushion between the bike and the guard rail.
I hope Andrea doesn't get mad, but I don't want any memorable Mother's days any more. I want them to come and go happily (ever after).
Happy Mother's Day moms!!
I know it is a few days early, but if I don't do this now, I may be too tired or forget to do it later, you see we are having 2 days of neighborhood yard sale starting Friday morning at 7am sharp.
This is not about the coming Mother's Day, but a Mother's Day past.
It's 1972. I live in rural Oregon. I am 8 years old. I am in the second grade. I have a dirt bike that I ride almost everyday. This is how I get to my friends and just have fun and kill time as the Internet is almost 30 years away.
My mother works in Albany, about 35 minutes away. We live on a rural road next to a covered bridge, at the bottom of a small hill and a nice sweeping 90 degree corner.
For Mother's Day, I gave my mom a ride on my motorcycle. Probably more terror for her than a gift, but I was happy.
She left for work just before noon and I went to my friends house up the road on my motorcycle. Oh, how the times have changed!
About 3pm it started to rain and I decided to go home. I took off and headed to my house about a mile away. I usually would get going good and fast and whip around the corner go through the bridge, turn around on the other side of the bridge and then cross back and go home.
Well, being 8 years old I did not understand a lot about physics, in particular how they apply to wet roads and knobby motorcycle tires on pavement in a corner that has little to no banking. Lets just say it was like riding a block of ice on a teflon road with a 90 degree turn and no banking in the turn.
I lost control of my motorcycle about half way through the turn and slid into the guardrail. I flipped over the guardrail and landed about 30 below the road by the river on my back. My motorcycle, still apparently running, idled it's way into the middle of the bridge and fell over.
One of our neighbors that I saw on a regular basis as I rode by his house, saw my bike in the middle of the road and me nowhere to be seen. Knowing that I rarely left the side of my bike, he went to the house and asked my older sister if she knew where I was. She didn't. As far as she knew I was riding my motorcycle somewhere.
They started to look for me. Calling my name. I eventually became conscious that someone was calling my name and I answered back. I could not move. I couldn't figure out why then, but it would become apparent later.
I yelled to my sister that I couldn't move and she called the Sheriff. The Sheriff called the hospital in Albany and they dispatched an ambulance. Obviously before the ability to dial 911 for emergency services. We even had a party line that she had to convince them that this was a real emergency, not like some of the other emergencies that the party line was cleared for.
I was in and out of consciousness for a while and the next thing that I knew the ambulance was there. The EMTs climbed down the hill to assess my situation.
They found out why I could not move. I couldn't move for 2 reasons. Reason 1, my left leg was broken just above the ankle, and not looking too good. Reason number 2, the more important reason at least to me, my helmet was stuck to one of the bolts that came up out of the bridge footings. I could not move my head because my helmet had become one with the support. They unbuckled my helmet and I could move.
They put a splint on my leg, covered me with a blanket to keep me warm, and were getting ready to haul me up the hill when it started to sprinkle. As it started to sprinkle the EMT with me decided to cover me up all the way, that is he pulled the blanket over my head.
Apparently the Sheriff called my mom at work and she had been racing toward home, just to arrive as it started to sprinkle. They directed her to an area by the guard rail that you could see me from, and as she looked down, I was just getting my head covered up.
"OH GOD! MY BABY IS DEAD!"!!! Came the blood curdling scream that brought me back to semi-consciousness.
I flipped the cover off of my head and yelled back to my mom. "No I'm not mom, I'm OK"!
This was too much for her and she promptly passed out. On the way to the ground she struck her head on the guard rail.
When they finally got me into the ambulance, my mother was already there being treated for a concussion.
We rode to the hospital together on that Mother's Day. I don't think that she or I will ever forget that one. I never gave her another ride or even offered it. I did eventually get a bigger motorcycle, even though mine was not harmed in the accident. I was the cushion between the bike and the guard rail.
I hope Andrea doesn't get mad, but I don't want any memorable Mother's days any more. I want them to come and go happily (ever after).
Happy Mother's Day moms!!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Hair
I don't normally look too closely at myself in the mirror, at least not my hair. Sure I have to look at myself when I shave or risk losing a lip or earlobe. I mean that I just don't look too carefully at myself. It just never seemed that important to me. I am not about looks, I'm about content!
I keep my hair short so I don't have to mess with it. I shave when I remember. I brush my teeth. You know, the regular stuff. I just don't spend that much time "looking".
Well, the other day I saw some pictures that were taken about 12 years ago. Not that much time, but enough to make some subtle differences in my appearance.
I looked much younger, my hair darker, and my gut less defined.
I guess that when I do look at myself in the mirror, maybe every other day or so. Certainly no more than a week will go by without me at least catching a glimpse of myself reflecting somewhere. I don't see too much difference. I usually notice when I shave that the hair on the back of my head is longer than it needs to be, then it is time to get a hair cut.
Today, I went to get my hair cut. A very nice girl cut it. She was asking how I would like it cut. What length to cut it on the back of my head, the top, and the sides. She said that the grey in my hair was very "distinguishing". I thanked her then looked for myself. GREY?
Now I know that I have had some grey hair on the sides of my head for years. But when I looked into the mirror in the very brightly lit hair cutting place, I saw something that I was not prepared for. Grey hair mixed throughout the top of my head. Sure there is not that much. Maybe 5% of the total hair on the top of my head has some grey mixed in here and there. But it is there. Taunting me.
When did that happen? It had to have been coming on for some time now! Why wasn't I informed? Who is in charge of this operation? Which grey hair belongs to what kid?
While I have messed around with some different hair styles over the years, most were too much work. I have always wanted to be "wash and wear", "get up and go". I don't want to waste too much time messing with a bunch of dead cells that will never continue doing what I want them to do anyway without massive amounts of gel or some other hair-holding super agent.
My hair is too fine and wimpy for many of the regular hair styles, so I just keep it short and let it do what it wants to do. Although I always thought that I would be in charge of the color. I guess that I was wrong.
I keep my hair short so I don't have to mess with it. I shave when I remember. I brush my teeth. You know, the regular stuff. I just don't spend that much time "looking".
Well, the other day I saw some pictures that were taken about 12 years ago. Not that much time, but enough to make some subtle differences in my appearance.
I looked much younger, my hair darker, and my gut less defined.
I guess that when I do look at myself in the mirror, maybe every other day or so. Certainly no more than a week will go by without me at least catching a glimpse of myself reflecting somewhere. I don't see too much difference. I usually notice when I shave that the hair on the back of my head is longer than it needs to be, then it is time to get a hair cut.
Today, I went to get my hair cut. A very nice girl cut it. She was asking how I would like it cut. What length to cut it on the back of my head, the top, and the sides. She said that the grey in my hair was very "distinguishing". I thanked her then looked for myself. GREY?
Now I know that I have had some grey hair on the sides of my head for years. But when I looked into the mirror in the very brightly lit hair cutting place, I saw something that I was not prepared for. Grey hair mixed throughout the top of my head. Sure there is not that much. Maybe 5% of the total hair on the top of my head has some grey mixed in here and there. But it is there. Taunting me.
When did that happen? It had to have been coming on for some time now! Why wasn't I informed? Who is in charge of this operation? Which grey hair belongs to what kid?
While I have messed around with some different hair styles over the years, most were too much work. I have always wanted to be "wash and wear", "get up and go". I don't want to waste too much time messing with a bunch of dead cells that will never continue doing what I want them to do anyway without massive amounts of gel or some other hair-holding super agent.
My hair is too fine and wimpy for many of the regular hair styles, so I just keep it short and let it do what it wants to do. Although I always thought that I would be in charge of the color. I guess that I was wrong.
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