"No! No! No, that's right, I said No!" Later: "Aieeeii, are they chasing me???!!!" She was a hoot with these Geese. Best. Day. Ever. (from a year ago - during Elyse's visit) ==== Elyse and Brian story #1 We're at PowderHorn Park this afternoon, walking around the lake. We are two thirds of the way around, and we run into several mama ducks with their new baby ducks, occupying the walking … [Read more...]
Dreams…
June 6, 2016 By
it's pretty hard for me to remember my dreams. But, I know I had one last night, and I should have gotten out of bed afterwards to type this up, because now, my memory of the dream isn't as vivid as it was immediately after my waking up. Setting the scene: The house got a bit hot in the latter part of the afternoon, but not so hot that I wanted to turn the air on. So, I turned on the fan I have … [Read more...]
Model Railroading thoughts
June 6, 2016 By
I'm mostly what's called an "Armchair" Model Railroader. Been one since 1973 when I was just fourteen years old, with my first purchase of a MRR magazine. That usually means I read the various hobbyist books and magazines but do not actually "build" things. Well, that's not 100% true in my case, since I've built ~8 buildings ("structures" in MRR terminology) from various model kits the last few … [Read more...]
Dad’s who Rock their daughter’s worlds
June 6, 2016 By
Video showing Best Dad Ever Best. Dad. Ever. I would do this if Lailah ever wanted to do mine - it's not that big of a deal (for me). I guess it's because I know who I am now at my age. Maybe, if I was age twenty - thirty, back then, I might have been (very) self conscious, but not any more. This dad rocks. … [Read more...]
Bullying movie…
June 5, 2016 By
If there can only be one status that you read of mine, this is the one to read. Please take two minutes to read this posting. I usually don't pick a movie at random to watch on the tube. I usually know what the subject is before I watch a movie. I was on NetFlix tonight, and under "New releases", I saw a title called "A girl like her". I didn't know what it was going to be about. I usually do … [Read more...]
Internet Haters
June 5, 2016 By
It's quite interesting (and ironic) that when someone posts a story about how she reacted to overhearing some teenagers and stuff they were saying, there are still "haters" who are bashing this woman, for telling the kids "to be kind". The "haters" just do not get it. If you are unable to say anything positive, just don't say anything. Original post about haters … [Read more...]
Lailah and Grand Days
June 5, 2016 By
Had a surprise opportunity to spend the day with the little girl today. We went to Grand Days in Saint Paul. There is a special area just for children where they had a pony ride (which she loved), two different inflatable bouncy houses - we ended up doing both bouncy houses - twice, because we'd bought $10 worth of tickets and had to get rid of them somehow. She wanted (and got) some … [Read more...]
HBO “Girls”
June 4, 2016 By
I must be one of the most clueless persons on earth... A month or so ago, I decided to check out this HBO comedy-drama called "Girls". Supposedly it's really "funny", and I thought I really needed to get some "funny" in my life. "Girls" in case you don't recognize the name, is this comedy created by a woman named "Lena Dunham", and, according to many comedians, she is supposed to be really, … [Read more...]
Graduation present from a friend
June 3, 2016 By
Received this awesome and very unexpected present in the mail today. What a great book - I absolutely love this photographer and his photos! It's even autographed by him! Thank you so much, Debbie! — with Debbie Riddell. … [Read more...]
Garrison Keillor retiring…
June 3, 2016 By
When I first moved to the Twin Cities almost thirty years ago, I thought this local legend was such a goofball. Now, after living here and hearing his show numerous times, he's grown on me, and while he's still a goofball, I think he's a pretty funny goofball. You're in our thoughts, Mr. Keillor. … [Read more...]
Grace and Frankie S1/S2
June 1, 2016 By
Binge re-watching season one of Grace and Frankie (before moving onto S2). Episode 12 has Grace (Jane Fonda), and Frankie (Lily Tomlin), dancing on top of a bar in a nightclub with a bunch of twenty yr old guys ("boys") cheering them on. I don't even want to go where I'm about to go, but how can two "girls" in their mid 70s still be "so hot"??? What's that new phrase, 70 is the new … [Read more...]
Lailah and her iPad
May 31, 2016 By
A year ago. That iPad was kind of an obsession with her - not any longer when she's with me. … [Read more...]
Letting go…
May 31, 2016 By
Let It Go Brian. Just Let It Go. Move On And Don't Give The <insert a less derogatory word than "a**holes" here> Another Thought. Let It Go. Now. Or It Will Eat You Alive. … [Read more...]
Max, the cat
May 31, 2016 By
Well, procrastination/indecision does me in, once again. Max, the cat I met at the humane society 3 weeks ago, apparently was adopted recently. I'm happy for him, sad for me. Still am unsure about getting a pet (dog. or cat), I know I need/would love one... … [Read more...]
Model Railroading books and eBay
May 31, 2016 By
Some backgound first: I'm a collector of vintage Model Railroading books. By "vintage", I mean books published from the early/mid 1930's to the hobby's height of popularity in the mid/late 1950's. That is not to say, I don't collect "newer" MRR books than that since I also collect MRR books from the the 60s, 70's, 80s, etc. The vintage MRR books though, are written in eloquent prose style … [Read more...]
Being rescued…
May 30, 2016 By
My remembered version of a known parable/story: There was this really old guy (age ~57), reading the newspaper, which warned of a flood coming in a month or so. He ignored it, saying, it's a month (or so) away, I don't need to prepare. Besides, if worse comes to worse, God will rescue me. A month later, the old guy heard a tv newscast, warning about a huge flood, to occur in two days. He ignored … [Read more...]
Grad ceremony and cameras (and little girls)
May 29, 2016 By
Omg, so much to share, don't know where to start. (Maybe, we'll only share one story right now) FYI: If you bring your 4 year old granddaughter to a one-time event, such as someone's college graduation ceremony, don't let them play with the camera before taking the pics. Camera "setting" icon was supposed to be on "green/auto". Ended up set on an icon of a "track/field runner". Which, if you're … [Read more...]
Memories about a couple of classes at St. Thomas
May 29, 2016 By
Out of the ten courses I took for my recent degree, this was the most favorite of mine (software process Mgmt) - the instructor was the most engaging person I've ever met (in "recent" life). I really, really enjoyed learning from this guy (Syed Ali Naqvi). I cannot believe two years have gone by since I took this guy's class. The second class mentioned, while I loved learning web design / … [Read more...]
Chewbacca mom…
May 29, 2016 By
Guess what's selling/trending like "hot cakes" on eBay? That's right, the "talking Chewbacka mask"! 70,000 views. Lol. One person makes a silly video, posts it online, goes viral by making millions of us laugh our heads off, and now the company that makes these things is "in the money". Who'da thunk? 🐻🐨🦁🐵??? 😱😉🤓 … [Read more...]
Memories
May 29, 2016 By
Gosh, I remember going thru this routine (on a road that had a stop sign at the top of a hill) after buying my first used stick shift and trying to get it home, with my brother in his car, behind me. Car was a '76 VW Rabbit. Really, really loved that car. Learning to drive a stick-shift … [Read more...]
