The Brace

Read Kathi's post here and then come back to look at the photo below. It'll make more sense.


And we may have misnamed Owen. Check out the snarl... maybe he should have been Elvis.


There are just strange tooth things going on at the house right now.

Record Breakers?

Guinness World Record Attempt
Largest Kazoo Ensemble
August 2nd, 2008
Hillsboro Civic Center Plaza

No talent required. Sign-in and pick-up your free kazoo starting at 10am in preparation for the record-breaking head count at noon. There will be food, activities for the kids, entertainment and lots more!

For more information visit www.unitedway-pdx.org

We'll be there if you want to join us.

Take a moment to read this article.

The Brits have a great sense of humor.

The Hill

Yesterday I was on "The Hill", today I am over it.

Yes, as of yesterday I am 40. The big four oh. Old. Decrepid. However you want to put it.

All is good.

Thank you everyone who took the time to celebrate with me. I had a blast.

To those that fear 40 you have nothing to worry about, it's not that bad. I barely feel a day over 39.9972.

Thank you Christopher Nolan for the cool Batman movie. Sadly Heath won't be reprising his brilliant role.

Rope Swing

Last weekend at Detroit Lake my kids got a little adventurous and tried out the rope swing. We got a bit of video of it.

Moments like this make me proud. It is great to see your kids try things you know scares them. Alex made sure that everyone that saw him not do it the first time came back to see him do it successfully.

Childhood Home

Google Earth is cool. Right? Yes it is. But another cool thing Google has is Street View on their maps. With this tool I found the childhood home where I lived in Navato, CA. It looks a bit different from when we lived there but not much. With Street View I can also take a virtual drive down the street to see the houses of old friends and old enemies. I guess turning 40 soon has made me a touch nostalgic.

Rush on TV

Today I watched The Colbert Report during my lunch hour to catch Rush's (not Limbaugh) first American TV appearance in over 33 years. Here's a couple things I noticed.

• Neil's drum kit is amazingly huge. Ginormous if you will. Matt you must check it out.


• They still sound amazing.


• No canes or wheel chairs, however, one confirmed bald spot and one that might be covering his.


• Alex brings his own fans (see barbie dolls on his pedals). A little strange.


• Geddy still plays keyboard, bass, and vocals... awesome.

The quote of the night comes while Stephen was asking about the bands influences... "You are known for some really long songs. Have you ever written a song so epic that by the end you have influenced yourselves."

If you are or were a fan at one point and haven't heard the new album Snakes & Arrows go get it. It is great.

And before I forget, the meal served during this moment of coolness was a delicious Tillamook Bacon Cheeseburger and Walla Walla Onion Rings from Burgerville. My annual trip across the street for some yummy goodness.

New Names

This past weekend we headed down the road for a little camping. On the way it got around lunch time so we decided to look for a place to stop. Knowing my kids and what they are willing to eat and knowing how cheap I am I read off the list of restaurants at the next exit...

Me: Kids we have a few choices, CrapDonalds, CrapperKing, and Taco Crap.

Kids: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA - Dad say CrapDonalds! Crapper King is the funniest!

Even with the new names they still ate at CrapDonalds.

Just know that the laughter continues five days later. I am so glad I can amuse my children.

I'm so tired.

Saying that I chuckle at the memory of Madeline Kahn's brilliant performance in Blazing Saddles.

But really, I am tired.

Blazing Saddles, if you haven't seen it, is comic genius.

Terribly tired.

And if you think worse of me for liking that movie, actually holding in my top 10, then too bad. I'm too tired to care.

Hawaii calls. Jim, Susan, got any hot job leads?

More 4th Fun

There is no questioning our patriotism. Look at this picture. How American can you get? Family of four with their dog, eating BBQ burgers in the backyard on the Fourth of July. Please note the Coke, Henry's beer, corn on the cob, Kettle Chips, Hunt's Ketchup (not Catsup), Walla-walla onions, the generic mustard (not French's), and Bush's baked beans. All American!

Happy 4th

Tonight we'll have the three B's to celebrate the Fourth of July - Burgers, Beer, and Blowing stuff up. Yes!

Our street will be filled with our neighbors doing the same thing. Hopefully this year I won't put my wife in danger. A few years ago I had a stray mortar shoot her way. Fortunately her ninja skills kicked in and she was able to evade the stray as it blew up right under the chair where she was sitting.

I've got some cool double mortars this year which we will light off in honor of Kev's 38th B-day yesterday. Happy Birthday Buddy. There is a card in the mail.

Biohazard Humor

When I arrived at the office today I noticed that one of my spare shoes was missing. You see, I am now leaving a pair of shoes at work because I am riding their more. Motorcycle boots are not comfortable to walk around in so a spare set of Nike's sits in wait. This way I don't have to cart in shoes everyday.

Upon noticing the missing shoe I immediately suspected that it was one of two people. Since I was the last to leave it was one of the people that beat me in. That leaves the receptionist and the shop foreman. Upon asking the receptionist I knew she didn't do it. This leaves Mr. Foreman.

I took off the boots exposing the sweaty socks. In stocking feet I walked out through the warehouse and up to the foreman's office. There I took off my now putrid, dust covered, sweaty socks and placed one over the phone receiver and dropped his wireless mouse in the other. Biohazard planted, confession forthcoming.

When I returned barefoot to my office I pulled out a spare set of socks I placed in my backpack for an occasion such as this. As I was pulling the socks on I noticed the missing shoe hiding behind my barf statue. After the socks I put on the shoes. Done.

An hour later I hear this yelling coming from down the hall. "Biohazard Warning! Biohazard Warning!" A moment later in walks Mr. Foreman wearing a Tyvek suit, dust mask, gloves, and a grinding shield holding my socks up by a stick of metal.

We had a good laugh.

For Matt

We are looking forward to tomorrow night!

Ball-less Pup

Poor little Owen lost his balls today. Literally. As cute as he is he'll never procreate.

When I got home he had on the cone. It didn't stay on long. I think it was scaring him. We'll get some photo's later (of him with the cone).

He is sad, and in pain. Poor little guy is very quiet tonight. He's been my little buddy most of the evening just laying in my lap with this sad little face. I'm sure in a few days he'll be back to normal.

I'd offer him a bag of ice but he'd probably just chew on it.

Interesting Flavor

Today I had a pomegranate flavored Tootsie-Pop. In all my years I never thought that pomegranate would be a candy flavor. I liked it. I was suprised. At first I didn't even want to try it. I am glad I did.

What flavor have you never seen in candy that you would like to see?

Time To Serve

For 22 years I've dodged the jury duty bullet. On July 23rd, two days after I turn 40, that will all change. I've been summoned. After all these years the random name generator found me. As a white gun carrying Christian conservative republitarian what are the odds I'd ever get selected for a jury? Probably the same odds as Ralph Nader becoming our next President.

So Jury Duty is one more thing to cross off my "never has happened to me" list. Next I'll probably get stung by a bee. That list will just get shorter and shorter.

Just Chill'n

Just hanging out today trying to recover from being sick. Yuck. Got the same thing I had back in January before we went to Hawaii. The bummer this time is I don't have the healing power of the islands. I spent most of the weekend in Mist, OR with the fella's from church for a little retreat. Last night I came home with the hopes that a good night sleep in my own bed would do me some good.

I know I haven't blogged much lately and being sick is part of the reason. A couple nights this week I came home and just crashed. I need to kick this soon.

A shout out to Luke for all the work, prep, food and sweet cabin. Props bro!

Sneaker Cars

Today I was snuck up on by a car. It was so quiet I didn't hear it coming. I got out of my car and started walking up the street to get to the sidewalk. Out of the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of this large blue beast on my tail. I jumped. I know the driver saw me jump and was laughing at me. I guess the days of relying on your ears in traffic are over. This hybrid Camry proved that.

What Are We Complaining About?

Anyone drink at Starbucks? or any other coffee shop of that nature?

Yes?

Then what are you complaining about?

Gas?

Well if gas is $4.16 a gallon, a gallon of coffee is $11.84. That is taking a 20oz. regular coffee at $1.85 and multiplying it out to a gallon. A 20oz. latte at $3.40 would be $21.76 a gallon. Wah, gas is expensive. I agree, and don't like anymore than the next. Yet we don't blink at a coffee, which we can make at home for pennies on the dollar, costing more than the gas we put in our car which we can't make at home (yet).

I look forward to the future innovations in the fuel market. Knowing the power and torque an electric motor can put out I'd love to have a fully electric car like the Tesla. Maybe if each major city put in a nuclear plant we could have electric recharge stations that make an electric car more practical and affordable.

GM is making strides with the Hydrogen car. Check this out:

Corporate Takeover

Corporations have taken over just about everything. Is the church next?



Thanks Michele.