Things To Get

Here's some whimsical ideas featuring things I've been thinking about getting...

Got anything you're thinking about getting you want to share with us all? Please do.


Joel's birthday is in a couple of weeks.. and I have been looking at this car for him.















I've been talking about getting a tattoo all summer. Maybe it's time. Here's one that might work.















Julie and I have been looking for a retirement home. Something out of the big city. Something on the coast. Perhaps here?

My Wife Rocks!

Too funny. I get home tonight and find out that Julie rode the segway to work this morning! She just cruised over to work on it and rocked the workers there by letting them all have a ride throughout the afternoon.

How cool is Julie?

End of Vacation Campfire

Sunday night represented the last evening Joel and Carissa would spend with us - as they returned home to Oregon this morning. We had a fun-filled week with them; so we chose to spend their final evening kicking back around a campfire. Luckily, our bud Tim has a backyard fire pit which he was more than willing to lend us for the occasion. So, we set it up and lit some firewood and enjoyed a quiet evening around the fire pit making Michigan pies (and yes, Vicki, we completely have commandeered the hobo pie moniker!).

To make the perfect pie? Well, you gotta start with some hot coals. These will do!















Then, you take a pie iron and line it with either white bread (buttered to keep it from sticking) or with biscuit dough (an innovation that Joel and Carissa shared with us) that is kept from sticking by coating the pie iron with Pam. The picture below features biscuit dough.















Next, you put your favorite 'stuff' on the inside. I chose peach filling make from peaches off our tree in the back yard (above). Julie L. loves a good pizza pie (below.. on white bread). You can see from the fixings on the table there are all sorts of tasty options!











































Next you place the pie iron in amongst the hot coals; turning it from time to time to ensure your pie cooks evenly.















We found out that the best way to do the biscuit dough was to 'split it in half' (make it half as thin as it comes in the can). If you don't ... it expands too much when you cook it!















You gotta open the pie iron to take a look at progress from time to time. When the pie crust is toasty brown - it's time to get the pie out of the iron.......















... and into your belly!















We had a relaxing time just hanging around the camp fire.















It's been awhile since we have been able to celebrate Joel's birthday with him - so we decided to integrate a small birthday celebration at the end of the evening. Julie L. was so sweet. I asked her if she could clandestinely make a cake for Joel - at the last minute Sunday night. She and her boyfriend, Evan, were more than willing to help out and cooked up a scrumptious cake; even including a full compliment of candles. My thanks to Julie for her kind act of service to make this last night together a bit more special!















And, of course, many thanks to Joel and Carissa for choosing to spend their vacation time with us this year!

SF Zoo

Friday Joel, Carissa, Julie and I had a chance to visit the San Francisco Zoo. As you all know, Julie loves animals and a chance to get out and experience wildlife in a place as compelling as the SF Zoo is a treat. To be able to share the visit with Joel and Carissa made it even better!

Homo-Sapiens:















Here's Joel - halfway through the visit. He got a little tired and kicked back for some down time.














Here's his impression of a bear!



















Birds:





































































Lemurs:















Lethal Threats:

































Non-Lethal Threats:















There was an infant west african lowland gorilla born at the zoo to a mother that did not take very good care of her. So, they took the infant from her mother and bonded her to a surrogate. Things seem to be going well now.















Reticulated giraffes, zebra, etc.

Seqway Slalom

My good buddy Aytch (pronounced like the letter 'H') lent me his Seqway this week while he is out of town. Thank you Aytch for allowing us to play with your baby!

And play we did. We've had a good time tooling around the neighborhood on it. It's fun to play with and attracts some interesting looks and comments.

Then, this morning Julie set up a slalom course in the street out front of our house.



















We all took turns running the course for time. Carissa put the segway through its paces. She was strong and under control!























































Tod rocked the corners!











































Jules was steady as she powered through the course. Check out the concentration and determination on her face.





































At least she looks like she is having lots of fun.



















Joel was a strong competitor which is easy to see by checking out his form in the corners.















































Check out how tight he was to the cone on this run (oops)!



















And here's JT owning the course! Check out his cool style!























































Of course, Indy is a total gamer!! Way to go!!















Tim checkout out the segway too. He loved it.. but chose a slightly different machine to do the slalom course!