So. I'm sitting in class Friday evening, next to one of my project teammates, and she is filling out a Saint Thomas form, before the evening's lecture starts. I recognize the form since I filled it out myself in early Sept. - It's a declaration of your intention to graduate (she's filling it out a bit early since she apparently still needs one more class, spring term - no matter). Anyway, there … [Read more...]
The “Twitch” app and Bob Ross!
November 2, 2015 By
Bob Ross! Read something recently about a thing called "twitch" (which is now a part of Amazon). Apparently it's an iPad/iPhone app, and it streams "stuff". The thing that caught my attention is that they are now streaming a marathon of Bob Ross painting shows...ALL ~380 of them. The "twitch" app is free, and the streaming service is free as well. So, if you want to watch Bob Ross, download the … [Read more...]
Middle of my final semester at Saint Thomas
October 28, 2015 By
It's now the middle of my final semester. Just six more class sessions to go, then the final exam - there is no mid-term exam. i was just looking at my "grade history", and noticed two different and distinct patterns: It seems I always receive "A"s in my Fall semesters, and "B"s in my Spring semesters. My two summer sessions were a mix, one summer session I received an "A", the other was a "B". … [Read more...]
Peeve: Talking during a movie in the theater
October 22, 2015 By
I was having a conversation (with RML) last night, about people talking in a movie theatre - this person knows how I typically react, and mentioned to me they think I'm trying to be "confrontational" (by my asking the person talking in the theater, "could you please be quiet?"). No, I replied, I'm not trying to be confrontational, I'm trying to get them to "shut the heck up!" So, my question is, … [Read more...]
Baking and Banana Bread!
October 22, 2015 By
My thanks goes to Yvonne Van West, a few months ago, I was lamenting about a portion of my bananas going to waste since I tend to buy a bunch of six, but only get to eat three or four before they "over-ripe". Yvonne was brilliant in sharing with me that I could be making banana bread from the unused ones. So, I got myself a banana bread mix recently, and made my first ever batch of banana bread … [Read more...]
Lailah and recent MN Zoo outing
October 22, 2015 By
After doing our usual indoor play activities from 10am until about 1pm, Lailah and I drove over to the MN Zoo (it's really nice being only 5 mins away). We then spent ~three hours walking around the outdoor animals, like the "Takin", the Asian Wild Dog, the prairie dogs (she loved those little guys, popping up out of their tunnel holes), the Moose, the Camels, the Leopard, the Wild Boars, and we … [Read more...]
Need better ideas for outdoor Lailah activity
October 21, 2015 By
HEY! Lailah fans: I'm getting "the kid" tomorrow. The (been there, done that) plan is the MN Zoo. Bit do any of you out there have a better outdoor activity (we've done the apple orchard already)? Need some great ideas, please! Otherwise, we'll just go to the park one last time (before the "W" word arrives in the next few weeks), playing on the slides and swings together, playing "hoops" on … [Read more...]
Renewing long lost friendships (again)
October 20, 2015 By
Took an opportunity to renew a long lost friendship today by meeting a friend of mine (LE) who I'd not seen in ~nine yrs, and had a really great lunch with them. I am so glad to have reconnected with them. [I cannot remember right now that saying about long lost friendships (with starting right back where you left off), but I think some of you may know it.] P.s., We saw "Bridge of … [Read more...]
Brownies, spreading Peanut Butter on top
October 19, 2015 By
Eating just baked home made chocolate brownies and spreading on peanut butter is so messy, but in the end, it's yummy (if you have some milk to go along with it). "Just sayin" Now, where did I put my napkin?? … [Read more...]
Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum Closing?
October 17, 2015 By
TC MRR Museum closing article (open in new window) This is really unfortunate - I've been to this museum numerous times over the years, and actually took Lailah there last Christmas. I'm hoping they can find a way to stay there or find another place - but it would be a lot of work to move. You would think there would be some railroad/corporation (like BNSF, or Central Pacific) that could make a … [Read more...]
Lailah News – going to the Apple Orchard
October 3, 2015 By
So. Lots and lots of my FB friends (all three of you) have been recently asking me: "Hey, what's up with Lailah these days?", "What's with the no recent stories about Lailah?", and my personal favorite, "Got any new excruciatingly long kitchen table painting videos of our favorite little girl?", as well as, "Man, we really miss hearing about Lailah" comments, etc. Therefore, I wanted to share … [Read more...]
New TV: “Transparent”
October 2, 2015 By
Well, I finished season one of (Amazon's tv series) "Transparent". I thought the first few episodes were visually choppy - camera was going off in all directions - maybe that was only in the first episode...but it was very distracting at first. The story seems a bit more complicated than needed - with them going into more about how messed up each of the three children's lives are (as adults) than … [Read more...]
Miscellaneous thoughts
September 12, 2015 By
Such a nice day out there today, my favorite season is fall - the temp is "just right". Too bad it only lasts 4-6 weeks here in MN. (Lol) I've got a few (good) stories to write about but I'm not doing it today. But, I'll preview them for you: First one is about my (accidentally) providing some excitement and joy to a person in my life by introducing them to something a few months ago. Maybe more … [Read more...]
Excitement over school!
September 8, 2015 By
Excited. Blah, blah, blah. Last course ("I.T. Infrastructure") at Saint Thomas starts this Friday evening - never had a Friday evening course before (it's probably going to ruin my very exciting social life - ha ha). 14 weeks/class sessions, final exam, no mid term exam, not sure if there is a team project yet, but apparently weekly individual and team assignments. Two text books and then a PDF … [Read more...]
Re-watching West Wing!
September 7, 2015 By
I've recently been watching reruns of the last few episodes of season 6 and the beginning of the final season (7) of West Wing and really wish we had presidential candidates such as the ones played by Jimmy Smits, Alan Alda, and/or Leo McGarry (John Spencer), Jed Barlett (Martin Sheen), instead of the dozen or more republican numbnuts that have thrown their hat in the ring so far. I really loved … [Read more...]
TV – “Mr. Robot”
August 27, 2015 By
Last few nights, I've been watching this new show called "Mr. Robot", with Christian Slater (in a supporting role). It's a bit interesting, but also, kinda "out there". Just finished episode 8, where two very, very surprising things happen toward the end - coming from totally out of the blue, total plot twists, etc. Only two episodes left before the end of this first season, then gonna have to … [Read more...]
Movie Reviews
August 22, 2015 By
ok, since it's raining cats and dogs outside; tonight apparently is movie review night. I've been somewhat lax with sharing some of the "great" movies I've recently seen. For good reason, since there is only one I saw at the "movies" (last week) and two were recent iTunes rentals. Let's do the easiest and most current movie first. "Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation". If you liked any of the … [Read more...]
My website, viewing my SmugMug pics & a 3rd party plug-in
August 16, 2015 By
Beware: this is a long and boring technical blog posting - if you're into using wordpress for blogging and also do photo sharing on your wordpress website, you might be 5% interested in this post - otherwise, you'll probably just think this is just another loony tunes post by yours truly, and should probably skip reading it. wink emoticon About a year ago, I moved from using FLICKR to SmugMug as … [Read more...]
Kinky Boots in town
August 2, 2015 By
Went to the Orpheum Theater this afternoon to see the musical "Kinky Boots". Loved the absolutely hilarious movie a few yrs ago, and decided to see this - I'd forgotten the show was a musical, and thought it was just a play (silly me). Anyway, while it was just "ok" in the beginning, by the middle of the first act, and especially the second act, it just got better and better, with a great … [Read more...]
Recommendations: shows, food, movies, etc
July 25, 2015 By
Today's miscellaneous Recommendations: Chilies restaurant: margarita chicken tex mex bowl, combined with their white queso appetizer and salsa on top is just DELISH! Yum. Locally, here in "beautiful downtown" Apple Valley, a "smash burgers" opened up a yr or so ago. I've eaten there a couple of times (but not recently), but they're pretty good. On the other hand, "Five guys" opened up their … [Read more...]
