Thweets

Thweets = "Thursday + Tweets". 

Let's do this thing....

Tod:  Hannah just returned to Berkeley for her senior year.  And I just realized this morning I've had this UC Berkeley coffee mug for 3 years now.  Time is rushing by....

Tod:  Okay.. another thing.  I was perusing my picture database the other day and realized we bought our Jeep in 2004.  That's over 6 years ago now.  What???

Tod:  And.. I thought we did our kitchen a couple years ago.  Nope.. we did it in 2006.  4 years have gone by since then??   Seriously???  Does time speed up when you get older?

Top of the World!

This is a picture of Eric and Hannah at the top of the cables on Half Dome yesterday morning.  They summitted just as the sun was rising!  How glorious a morning that must have been for them.

Congratulations to Hannah and Eric and his brother for making it to the top.  They started at 1:30am and hiked through the dark night to the top.  I am so proud and impressed with them.

Can't wait to see more pictures.  I'm told Hannah took the most amazing jumping picture ever.  Stand by... for more.

Let There Be Light

The Logan kitchen transformation is picking up steam.  Tim came over to the house tonight and insisted we 'go for a walk';  a euphemism for let me show you what got done today.  As it turns out, a lot of electrical work got gone.  And, the canister lights went in.  These are pretty slick little canisters; each one an LCD light that will last for 50,000 hours of use.

Here he is showing me his latest accomplishment.

And here Tim is surveying his domain.  Impressive.

 PS.. hey.. can you believe it?  My camera works inside!!  Hahaha!

Failing Up

As my family members will tell you - I agonize over spending money; especially on myself.  And it's even harder when I screw up and loose something and have to replace it.

I've had to do that twice now this year (please, Lord, can it stop?).  But, I have to say - I have definitely failed up.  That's my term for screwing up, yet ending up in a better situation (although poorer in this case).   Of course, these days it's hard to fail down with technology continuing to improve at a rapid pace.  However, I just replaced my lost camera - and am so excited.

I ended up purchasing a Canon T2i with a 18-135mm lens.  Sweet.  It's a fantastic camera and a pretty good, mid-level lens.  I decided on one lens with good wide angle (18mm) and decent zoom.. over two lens solutions - because it's so much nicer to just grab and go and not be changing lenses (something I learned with the Olympus).  I do plan to get a fixed 50mm lens down the road for indoor or low light shooting.  I've played with one and had two different people highly recommend it (thanks Jon and Jeremy). 

For now, though, I just wish the battery would hurry up and finish charging so I can start to play!

PS.. shocker alert... but I even decided to buy locally and pay CA sales tithe.  I know, I know, I know.

Tweets and Contest

karen inspired me.  let's have a contest.  tweet in your response.  the question:  when will the kitchen remodel at the Logans complete?  by complete it is meant that all the functions within the rooms (kitchen and dining room) have been returned to working order, all trim, paint and finish details are complete and the furniture (pots, pans, table, chairs, etc) have been returned to the room.

what shall the winner win?  hmmmm.... $5!   (entries must be submitted soon.. i'll close the entries when it seems right ;)

okay.. what say you?  also.. throw in a tweet if you feel so moved.

tod:  october 7th.  4pm.

tod:  3 days off this weekend and i already fixed the sprinklers.  sweet.

tod:  speaking of 3.  3 weeks from now will be kicking back in Michigan.  sweeter!

It Has Begun!

Congratulations to Tim and Barbara on their newest adventure; redecorating.  I don't know if this is some test that their pre-marriage counselor cooked up (pun intended) - but just months before they are to be married (next March!) they are undertaking their first home renovation;  the kitchen.

Here's a picture from a few days ago.  Jon + sledge = progress!   As of last night it's now stripped to the studs - and there's a dumpster in the street that is getting fuller and fuller. 

It's clear when people are in the midst of such an adventure.  Conversations start to focus on shopping trips and decorating decisions.  Garages fill with parts and more parts (the cabinets are here!).  You start discussing propane supplies - an essential for cooking for the next couple months.  And then there's the guessing.  Will it be finished by the end of September?  Halloween?  Thanksgiving?

And anxiety levels start to rise.  Funny story.  We're on a walk with Tim last night and he tells us that he awoke the previous night in a state of heighted anxiety and found it difficult to get back to sleep.  He said the realization that this is just the beginning,  meaning he will likely have to do the whole house,  finally hit him square between the eyes. 

Yep.  But we'll help you through it!  There's no stopping now!

Thursday Tweets

yep... it's that day.  what say you?

tod:  my belly is full from scarfing a tod mcmuffin (see earlier post) and donut (oops!).  ahhhhh... best morning in awhile!!

tod:  gearing up for the wiener nationals this sunday.  julie should be working on Indy's costume!

tod:  speaking of gearing.. if you don't watch Top Gear you should.  Joel turned me on to it.  brits obsessing about cars.  totally awesome and hilarious!  TIVO it!  it's on the Discovery Channel.  (julie even watches it!)

Obsession

Do you ever get obsessed about something?  Just can't stop thinking about it?  Dare to admit it?

Yesterday, my mind started fixating on Egg McMuffins (EMs).  I'm not entirely sure why.  It just started firing off my EM synapses - unrelentingly.  How many calories are there in an EM?  How would you make the round egg part?  How much would it cost to make an EM?  Wouldn't you rather have one of those than this oatmeal?

At lunch I walk around the block.  There's a McDonald's on the block so I went in and checked it out.  I found that an EM has 300 calories and is around $3.50 ($3.19 + CA sales tithe).  This just inspired my synapses to fire faster.  How low could I get the calorie count by choosing ingredients?  How much could I make one for?  I needed to know.

So, after work I went to Safeway to feed my obsession.  Here's what I found.  An EM is four simple parts;  english muffin, egg, ham, and cheese.  The english muffins are the biggest calorie contributor.  A standard english muffin is 150 calories.  You can buy low calorie count ones which are 100 calories.  But, you have to pay a premium for those.  I was willing to keep the 150 in trade for much lower cost.  You can buy low calorie cheese slices at 25 calories.  Ham:  30 calories.  I got slices and folded them over.. which was fine and delicious. Egg substitute: 30 calories.  (Real egg is more like 80 calories)

Bottom line:  my EM is 235 calories and the cost... is $1.02!  Ha!!

*** update ***:   new bottom line:  195 calories for $0.89.  thank you WalMart!

I tried two manufacturing techniques.  The first was to put the egg into a dish and microwave it for 30 seconds.  Then, put the cheese on top and continue microwaving for 15 seconds.  At the same time I toasted the English Muffin in a toaster oven.. placing the ham on top half way through the toast.

The second technique was similar to the first except I microwaved the egg for a full 45 seconds and added the cheese to the muffin during toasting (with the ham).

Winner?  Technique #2!  Here's the finished product!   Soooooo good!  I don't think I will ever buy another EM!

I know, I know Joanne... back to work!!

What's your food obsession these days???

Restaurants

So - anyone got any good suggestions for interesting local restaurants?  I'm all ears.  Here's a couple I can think of...

Joel Should Go Here  (Rok)
Julie and I double dated with Tim and Barbara at a restaurant recently.  I immediately thought that Joel would love the place.  It's on Murphy Street in Sunnyvale and features cooking on 700 degree hot rocks and flaming fondue pots.  I can't actually recall the name (help!!).. but the food was great and it was a lot of fun.  You essentially order a steak and they bring it to you on a hot stone.  You slice it into pieces that you then cook to the desired doneness.  It's a great model - I bet few meals get sent back that way.  Hard to mess up heating up a rock. And dippling all sorts of stuff in chocolate for dessert can't be wrong!  I would rate this as expensive.. but good.

Cooking Papa

This is a new (under new management) Chinese restaurant on Homestead Avenue by Kiely Blvd.  It intrigues me because the place is full out PACKED every time I walk by it.  Even at 9pm it is jammed with people.  Either the food is free ... or it's good.  Gotta try it. 

Surveillance Transcripts

Many of you may not know – but I work in electronic reconnaissance and surveillance (which would explain how I even know how to spell those words). One of the side benefits of this career is acquiring the technical wizardry required to reconnoiter my children remotely; and – until today – secretly. Wanna listen in? Here’s a brief transcript from last night at Team Henderson 2’s Oregon hideout. Transcripts from Hannah’s apartment will be released shortly.

Transcript (8-3-2010 20:18:20)

Joel : Babers (aka Ryan), nice job with the laughing video.

Babers: thanks, Mr. Awesome (aka Grand Master JX, aka Joel). It’s definitely some of my best work to date.

Joel: unquestionably. However, you might want to pull it back just a smidge. I thought you were a bit over the top in the 3rd minute.

Babers: gotcha. Pulling back.

Joel: Okay. now, remember - we leave in less than 4 weeks for Michigan. We’ve got a lot of logistics to work out before then to make it a successful trip. So, let’s get started. First off – let’s review our plan for getting a row to ourselves on the airplane flights. Baber’s – show us what you’ve been working on.

Babers: Sure Grand Master JX.  ( loud farting noise; continues for several seconds )

Joel: dude! That was fabulous!  ( laughing )

Carissa: well done! you get high marks for sound level and duration. But, you still have some work to do young man. The smell’s not quite potent enough. As we’ve discussed, it has to emanate for at least 7 feet to have maximal clearing affect. I can barely smell it over here.

Babers: sorry mom. I’m trying. I’m just struggling to produce enough rancid odor to disperse a crowd without knocking myself out. Remember – my nose is perilously close to Ground Zero.

Joel: Babers, understood. However, to achieve our goal a certain amount of collateral damage may be necessary. If you have to take yourself out – do it.

Babers: Ooh-rah, Mr. Awesome. ( louder farting noise; continues until Babers passes out )

Carissa: Perfection! Babers? ( mildly shaking Ryan ); Babers? Well, it looks like he was overcome by the fumes. We’ll have to reconvene in 15 minutes. Let’s take a break…..