Friday, November 30, 2007

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Way Back When-sday


This is a picture of my youngest brother, Brandon, from about 10 years ago. I don't remember exactly but I'm sure Mama or someone can put in a comment when it was. The cuts and stitches on Brandon's head and face in the picture are from when his head put that hole in the windshield on his truck. What may have saved his life is the extra strong bumper that had been added to the front of it ... that, and the powers above. I remember seeing Mama's face when she was standing beside Brandon's bed in the emergency room and she looked up at me when I came in. I don't know what she would have done if things hadn't turned out the way they did. I post this Way Back picture now at the start of this holiday season to remind us all how important we are to someone out there. Brandon has had a couple of these close call accidents and I'm sure some of you have had friends or family who weren't as lucky as Brandon was. Please remember during this season how important it is to get where you are going -- alive ... and how just as important it is for the people sharing the roads with you to get where they are going.

What a handsome picture ...

I was off from work for a few days and I returned to find my screensaver on my Mac had mysteriously switched from a Big Boy bobblehead to a picture of a co-worker by a waterfall.

Note to Justin....
The secret might be out.



Monday, November 26, 2007

Sad news, good memories



LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kevin Dubrow, lead singer for the 1980s heavy metal band Quiet Riot that scored a hit with "Cum on Feel the Noize," was found dead in a Las Vegas home. He was 52. The cause was not immediately known.
Read more here.

I wasn't much of a fan of metal bands growing up, but who didn't like this song. It must have been played hundreds of times while friends and I hung out in my parents' basement.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Eagles vs. Patriots ..... oh shit

The Eagles take on the undefeated New England Patriots tonight in New England and Eagles QB Donovan McNabb is hurt and will not play. I'm not sure how good this game will be, so I'm trying to make sure the food is good. So I started the chili late last night/early this morning and I put the ribs on about an hour ago. I take the ribs and move them into a pan after searing them. There's also plenty of beer and plenty of Jim Beam. Win or lose, I'm going to enjoy myself.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Camping photos ... finally

This is a bunch of photos from camping strung together in video form.




To see many of these photos in a slower-paced slideshow, click here.
To see the photos on a page to click on each one individually, click here.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Thanksgiving Clip



This is a couple of clips from Thanksgiving Day at Mama and Pops house. It was low key this year ... not everyone in our family was there this time.
In these clips, Pops cuts the bird, Emily rolls the crescent rolls, Mama dishes out some desserts, Brandon dozes off and Toby snores ....

I hope everyone out there had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

If any of you are like me and need to be reminded every now and then of the many things you have to be thankful for, the piece at the right is from an Ann Landers column a few years back.

Just click on it to see it bigger or click here to download it as a pdf.

Something funny for your Friday

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thursday thing-along



Chilliwack ... what a great name for a band. Get the history of the band and the name here on wikipedia.

Rock em Sock em



So now we can find all of our favorite games from the 70s today at K-Mart ... And they are all ON SALE. Get "Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots" for just $7.77.

Check out today's K-Mart ad in your local paper...


That's just plain awesome .... Now I want a Pound Puppy....

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Way Back When-sday


This Way Back goes with the season....
As the back of the picture says, this is me gnawing down on a turkey drumstick. This picture is from November 1966 and it was the first Thanksgiving turkey Mama and Daddy cooked as a married couple. I'm not sure if 6-month-old babies should be gnawing on turkey legs, but I turned out OK.

P.S. Check out my chromed out ride. That is one sweet-ass stroller, y'all.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Who says guys can't cook in an oven?

During this year's camping trip, we figured out a way to slow cook a beef brisket by building a stone oven. Check out the rocks used as the front and top to keep in the heat. It worked to perfection.



More camping videos and pictures are on their way.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Feeling right at home

When there are no seats left on the couch or they just don't feel like stretching across the back of the couch, the animals love to stretch across me. In the below picture, Parker (left) and Toby are stretched out across my stomach and one of my legs.

I guess they will find a way to comfortably survive, no matter what the situation.

Lazy, rainy kind of day


It's been a lazy day around the house. Toby (left) and Parker have been asleep on the couch for most of the day while Maybelline has been upstairs somewhere. Notice how Toby creates a throne of a bed for himself.

I should try to teach Toby to do some of these things.

Having a lazy day of your own? Why not try this game.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Autumn's beauty

The trees in the corner of the yard looked especially colorful a couple of days ago. I set my camera down and just let it record.


Friday, November 16, 2007

Something funny for your Friday



I like chick flicks. This scene is from The Sweetest Thing.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

More on the Brunswick Stew ....



We used to have a big party when we cooked a Brunswick stew (see video above) and much of the stew -- but not all of it -- got eaten that day. This year there was no party and Mama and Daddy had decided to can most of it (at right).

Don't know what canning is? Learn more here.

For the original Brunswick stew post, click here.

Thursday Thing-along

This one's from the 80s.... Crank it up and dance ...

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Way Back When-sday


This Way Back When-sday is dedicated more to an event than a group of photos. This past weekend, my parents cooked a Brunswick Stew at the house. The stew is a family tradition we brought up here with us when we moved from North Carolina. If you click on the picture of the article at the top, you can read a piece the paper I now work for did on this tradition in 1992. The picture in the article is of Granddaddy and Mama. Granddaddy is stirring the stew while Mama adds some ingredients. At right is a picture of Mama dipping out the remainder of the stew this year.

We haven't done a stew in a while. After Granddaddy died, I know it was tough for Mama to even think about having a stew. After all, Granddaddy carved the hickory paddle we still use. I remember when he cut down the wood he used to make it. I watched as he whittled away at it with an ax before switching to his knife for a final touch here and there. He'd come up from North Carolina to help with the stew every year. Sharpening the knives, cutting the onions and potatoes, picking through the chicken to get the bones. And of course, stirring with the paddle he made. I think he enjoyed seeing the tradition get carried on ... and being such a big part of it.

NOTE: I'll add to this later... I need to get ready for work.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Keep on rocking me baby



The clock in the video above is at my parents' house. It came from Mammy and Granddaddy's house and is just like this clock. When Mammy and Granddaddy first bought the clock, it probably cost somewhere around $18.
Here's an early ad for the same clock. The house-shaped clock features a woman rocking in a rocking chair in front of a fireplace on one half and the clock face on the other half.

• If you like the Cuban version of Coldplay's "Clocks," get it here, for now.
• Here's another version of the song.

Friday, November 9, 2007

Boy Wonder goes to the Eagles game



... and the beat goes on ....

Something funny for your Friday



I'm not sure what's funnier.... the fact that the kid is singing a Britney Spears song and doing the dance moves or the ending when his Mom scares him.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Thursday Thing-along


On a morning from a Bogart movie
In a country where they turn back time
You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre
Contemplating a crime
She comes out of the sun in a silk dress running
Like a watercolor in the rain
Don't bother asking for explanations
She'll just tell you that she came
In the year of the cat.

For the rest of the lyrics, go here.

For some information about Al Stewart, check this Wikipedia page.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Way Back When-sday



This picture is from the early 80's and is of one of our kittens climbing across my ass. If you can take your eyes off my big ass, you'll see a tail of hair hanging over the collar of my shirt. Yes .... I had a tail, rat tail, whatever. That was the period before I got my mohawk.

Getting all crazy about his Robin doll

I went in to the office today for a meeting even though I was taking a couple days off. It gave me a chance to see first hand what Esteban at Parra Grafs did to my desk.




Some of his anger is misplaced. He should be getting back at Natalie for letting the dog play with Batman.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Robin survives one adventure...


Robin enjoyed himself, despite the little incidents with the knife and the fire. Did he survive the Eagles game? Find out soon. For a look at what Robin's owner has done as payback for the kidnapping, check this post at Parra Grafs.

For all my friends who were backpacking with me -- and those just interested in seeing the pictures and video of it -- I'm working on the non-Robin video and pictures and will post it this week.

Holy hot feet Robin


It was a little cold up on the mountain during our backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail. But I made sure we kept the kidnapped Robin warm, despite the mayhem being engineered against me back at work.
More photos and videos to come -- with and without Robin. Stay tuned, Bat friends.

Friday, November 2, 2007

Take a hike ....



I'm off to the Appalachian Trail for a backpacking trip with friends -- and I kidnapped a co-worker's Batman and Robin figurines to go along for the ride. Watch for video and photos of all their doings next week.

It should be fun.

UPDATE: [Nov. 5] I have returned from backpacking and Robin is with me. Unfortunately, Robin may have to take a sound beating for what has happened to my desk at work.

Watch for photos and video of the backpacking adventure soon.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Thursday Thing-along



Listen to the ground:
There is movement all around.
There is something goin down
And I can feel it.

On the waves of the air,
There is dancin out there.
If it's somethin we can share,
We can steal it.

....

So sue me ..... I love me some Bee Gees every now and then.