New Year's Eve Eve

Well, the year is really winding down now! Lunch with Judy, Judy, Rick, Kay, Gina and maybe Marge tomorrow at BJ's on Eastern. Should be fun!

Tuesday in Paradise

Enjoying the quiet week. Brett got a truck yesterday and I made a pot roast for dinner. Going to get a tri-tip for tonight and a corned beef for New Years, paired with black-eyed peas and cabbage...gotta be lucky for the new year. We were talking about camping at Big Bend of the Colorado this weekend, but I don't think it is going to work out. Click title to get totheir website. Maybe in a couple of weeks.

Aussie Burgers

Brett made Aussie burgers for us last night after our marathon commute from Sylmar. They are regular cheese burgers with pineapple slices and pickled beets. They also can include bacon and a fried egg. Some say that I have a big mouth, but not that big!

While I was is LA, I drove by our old house in Northridge, Ca. The birth place of Laurence Strannix. I couldn't find the plaque! Maybe it takes time to declare a site a national monument.

Christmas at Stephen's new house!

Spent Christmas week in Sylmar with Stephen at his new house. Picked up Brett and his son Kelly at LAX on Monday afternoon, sent them on their way Tuesday morning after a late night of talking and laughing (and drinking!) Spent the rest of the time shopping and tooling around in a little rental. Steve came in Thursday afternoon, then I was off to church with Debbie, a coworker and friend of Stephen's. Christmas Day hit with Steve doing all the cooking, ham with all the trimmings! Debbie came for dinner along with Jim and Matt. Saturday, Steve, Mike and I went to see "Avatar" in Pasadena. I was very proud of myself....I didn't have to pee and kept awake for all of the movie...almost three hours. Had drinks and appetizers with Mike then it was off to Al Read's for surf and turf. Lots of good food and laughs! Drove home Sunday. Mike told us to leave early, I guess noon wasn't early enough. Took us almost 8 hours!!! We will listen to you next time, Mike!

Jim's 20th AA Birthday Party

Forgot to post about Jim's 20th AA birthday party in Laguna Beach on

November 15th. Matt, Jim's partner, organized the entire party which included food, entertainment, and many speakers letting Jim know just how proud they are of him. I am very proud of him too!

Thanksgiving in Ohio

Just got back from Ohio after a great Thanksgiving weekend. Steve and I spent the weekend at his mother's house in Owensville OH. Betty, Steve's mom, had lots to eat, some treats from an Amish bakery, along with all of the normal Thanksgiving foods. Steve's brother Bill made a visit from Atlanta along with his wife, Sherry, and son, Brandon. Michael, a friend of Betty's, also visited from Kentucky. This is a snapshot of Steve, MaryLou (Steve's sister), and Bill at the kitchen counter. Next stop Christmas at Stephen's house in Sylmar, CA.

Spent Halloween in Sylmar, California at my brother Stephen's new house. Went to Disneyland on Friday with Jim, Matt, and Don. Hallowen party at Stephen's on Saturday. Guests included Danna, Denis, his 2 girls, Mike S., Jim, Matt, Don, and others. Took a midnight walk to the graveyard that was right nextdoor. Saw my ghoul friend, notice picture, among the tombstones. Actually that is Steve at the party. We did hear bells tolling at the graveyard! 8-)

Brett's Back!

Just found out the Brett and his family are returning to Las Vegas. I am happy to see them back, but upset that things did not turn out the way they had planned. Brett and Kelly will be staying with us beginning November.

The Screaming Skull (Part 1)

Another Halloween treat!

House On Haunted Hill 2/14 (1959)

Let Halloween begin!

Back from Ohio

Spent last week in Ohio and Kentucky moving Steve's mom into her new home. Bought her an HD flat screen TV too. She seems to be settling in just fine. We are going back for Thanksgiving to kind of christian the house with a lot of food and a lot of family.

Just got back from the skin doctor. He said that all looks good and it should heal up just fine. I can't imagine that, but time will tell.

Getting ready to see Bette Midler tonight!

Stephen's Birthday Party Coming Up!

Found this shot. Looking forward to all the fun in store this weekend!

Can you guess which one is me?

I was finding pictures for Stephen's party and came across this gem from kindergarten. Can you guess which one is me? If you can, you win a prize! Good luck!

Trip to Forth Worth April '09

Video of Tim and Ben's house, race track, the grassy knoll, and The Water Garden, all in Fort Worth.

Forth Worth

Had a great time visiting my brother Tim and his partner Ben in Fort Worth last week. This is a photo at Ben's art show. This is Tim posing in front of his portrait. I think the next stop should be the Pagaent of the Masters in Laguna Beach. We also visited the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas. Very interesting and very moving. To be able to see history, something that I remember so vivdly right before my eyes was amazing. We also ate a lot and laughed a lot. Had a great time.

Interview on Creativity with Darryl Hickman

Jeanette MacDonald "Jerusalem"

Had a great day at church today. Danielle White who plays Carlotta in "The Phantom of the Opera" here in Vegas, sang "Jerusalem" for the congregation of Community Lutheran Church. She blew the roof off! I remembered that Jeanette MacDonald sang "Jerusalem in the movie "San Francisco" So I attached it!

Man in the Attic

Watching an old Jack Palance movie, "Man in the Attic", a Jack the Ripper tale. Thought it might be fun to watch. The surprise is Francis Baviar. She was Aunt Bea on "The Andy Griffith Show". She is exactly the same in this movie. Looks, voice, mannerisms. I think it was filmed in England and everyone has accents except Jack and Francis.

Another cool video!

Judy's new baby!

Happy Birthday Barbie!

Validation

This Kid is Great!

Vick to be released to house arrest!

Oh my goodness. Must be nice being on house arrest in a 3700 square foot home. Room for pets, Michael?
Government official says ex-Falcon QB Michael Vick will be released to home confinement


RICHMOND, Va. (Associated Press) -- Imprisoned NFL star Michael Vick will be allowed to serve the last two months of his sentence under home confinement because there is no room at a halfway house for him, a government official told The Associated Press Thursday.
Vick is serving a 23-month sentence at the federal penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., after pleading guilty to bankrolling a dogfighting operation at a home he owned in eastern Virginia's Surry County. He also admitted to participating in the killing of several underperforming dogs.
Vick's lawyers have said they expected him to be moved any day into a halfway house in Newport News. But because of a lack of space, Vick will be released instead to his home in nearby Hampton at some point on or after May 21, said the official, who has knowledge of the case but requested anonymity because the individual was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
"We are aware of reports regarding the release of Michael Vick," Vick attorneys Billy Martin and Lawrence Woodward said in a written statement. "As his attorneys we understand and respect that there is a process that the Bureau of Prisons follows therefore it is not appropriate for us comment at this time."
Vick's agent, Joel Segal, did not return messages seeking comment. Vick's mother, Brenda Boddie, said in a telephone interview that she knew nothing about the arrangements.
The Hampton house is one of four Vick still owns, according to bankruptcy court papers. He sold the Surry County property that served as headquarters for his BadNewz Kennels soon after his July 2007 indictment.
The five-bedroom, 3,538-square-foot brick home with an in-ground pool in Hampton is assessed at $748,100, according to city tax records. Vick also owns an interest in a $2 million home being built in Suffolk, bankruptcy court papers show. His eight-bedroom home in suburban Atlanta is scheduled to be sold at auction March 10, with a minimum opening bid of $3.2 million.
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According to Vick's lawyers, the former Virginia Tech standout plans to resume his pro football career. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who suspended Vick without pay, has repeatedly said he will review Vick's status after the legal proceedings are completed.
Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said earlier this month that the Falcons will try to trade the contract rights on Vick to another team. Vick, once the highest-paid player in the NFL and among its most popular, has a contract that runs to 2013 and calls for him to receive a base salary of $9 million and a bonus of $6.43 million in 2009. The remainder of the contract is worth $45.11 million, with an additional possible $3 million in Pro Bowl bonuses.
Officials of some other NFL teams have said they are not interested in Vick because they would rather not face the wrath of pet lovers and groups such as PETA, which has been a constant fixture at Vick's hearings.
Vick also earned substantial sums from endorsement deals with Nike and other companies, but that income vanished after the dogfighting revelations virtually destroyed his image as well as his finances. Vick filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July, claiming assets of $16 million and liabilities of $20.4 million.

Digital Learners

Thought I would put this video here in case I ever wanted to show it at a staff training.

Baby it's cold outside!

Gar Woods in North Lake Tahoe is having their annual Polar Bear Swim this weekend. Thought I would share a video from last year.

Danna, Steve, and Larry in Tahoe!

Had a great time in Tahoe over President's weekend. I have attached a silly Flip video of our trip!

Atom Age Fun!

Yuck, it's her again!

WhiteBoard Skit

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Quiet Sunday

A quiet Sunday. Went to the 8:00 service at Community Lutheran Church. A good service then went to breakfast with Chris and Paul at the Omelet House on Desert Inn. Steve and Brett were busy with the outdoor kitchen for the the second day. Rain and cold did not stop them.

Teacher Rally

We had a rally today at Chaparral High to protest the education cuts proposed by our governor. Not a very good video, sound was bad, but the first one I took with my Flip. It was fun seeing a lot of old friends at the rally.

Taylor Mali -

My favorite teacher video ever. I am so glad I am not in the classroom, for now anyway.

Review Of The Flip Video Camera

I know I am going youtube crazy, but this is a good video about my new favorite gadget!

Conway DDS

Went to the dentist yesterday for the second time this week! Yesterday was a routine cleaning, but Wednesday was for a crown that did not fit. Gotta go back in 2 weeks and try again.

Flip

Wow, just got a Flip camera on Woot and I couldn't be happier. Easy to use and share videos. I will be posting some video soon that I will take with my Flip!
www.theflip.com

Night and Day

Watched "Night and Day" on TCM tonight. A Totally fictionalized account of the life of Cole Porter. I still liked it though as a 40's Warner musical!

5 Hams at Christmas

More Christmas pix with the boys. Got this ham from some friends at Lamping. It was good!

A Short Christmas Video

Check out "The Gold Rush". http://www.box.net/shared/mzffql8tsv

Happy New Year!

Spent the the new year in Laughlin, Nevada at the Avi resort. They have some trailer hook ups and that's what we did. Went with Brett and his family. It got very cold and windy so spent more time than I would have liked in the trailer. They were having a craft show and sale at the campground. Lots of rocks!! Didn't buy anything. Had the breakfast buffet, food was good but the view was better. Thanks to Mike Cohn for the picture....I didn't take any.