Shadow Puppets

Just saw an impressive shadow puppet video on the DB Website. Here's the link:

MST3000

We recently Netflixed a spectacularly bad episode of Mystery Science Theater 300, "Hercules Against the Moon Men." I had almost forgotten how funny Joel, Crow and Tom Servo were as they rattled their way through space and miserable movies. Here is a picture of the Moon Man costume, an amazingly dopey get-up something like a tin foil oil with kevlar oven mitts for hands. Also on tap: perhaps the longest sand storm on film; cameos by Telly Savalas and Paul Sorvino (not); worst ever special effects; and the least realistic torture devices imaginable. So bad, we watched it three times!

Tulip Time

When I visit Jana in the spring, we like to take pictures at Temple Square. We found this year having two kids to cajole was even harder than one. When Lynlee smiled, Alex didn't. When Alex smiled, Lynlee didn't. But the tulips were always posing perfectly, and we got a few good shots off. Here are some of the favorites from my visit in April.

Paddy O'Platt

When they announced a St. Patrick's Day party in our ward, there were more than a few of us who lifted our eyebrows and wondered how a suburban Mormon ward would pull that off. Clearly, green beer was out. What would we have to look forward to? The answer soon came in the form of a request from the activities committee chair, who begged Roger to emcee the party... dressed as a leprechaun. Much angst followed. But as her home teacher, there was a certain amount of pressure to comply. And thus was born "Paddy O'Platt" - pictured below. Roger, of course, did a great job, even under duress. When I came up with an idea for a costume that was not too embarrassing, that seemed to help. There was Irish stew, green cookies and cupcakes, an Irish story from our resident storyteller, lovely Irish fiddle playing, a St. Patrick's Day quiz, and a very cute group of step dancers (also pictured below) from a local dancing school. It turned out to be a great party, and no one even once stated the obvious - that we are not Catholic and don't actually honor Patrick as a Saint (although our ward mission leader's given name is Patrick, and he is a real saint!).
The best part of the whole thing was when I sent the pictures below to Jana. She said Lynlee laughed and laughed to see Pa dressed up. Her comment: "I didn't know Pa was a leprechaun!" Priceless.

Time Marches On

March already, and the blog has been badly neglected. Not the only blog neglected, to be sure. In fact, all my posts are infrequent for no good reason except that life goes on. To get back in the swing of things, here is a photo taken on a "birthday lunch" with my friend Tina. Our outing was a few weeks late of my birthday, but what we lacked in accuracy we made up for in panache. We decided to cruise on down to OB for a burger at Hodad's on Newport. Probably the best burgers and fries in town - and it's a big town! I'm talking best in San Diego, not just OB. Maybe the best cheeseburgers ever created. There was a short line at the door, not bad for a Friday lunch. Fate - or timing - was on our side, as the guy at the door (can't really call him a host; maybe "dude" is better) asked if we'd like to eat in the bus. Yay! One of the outstanding architectural features of Hodad's is half an old VW bus stuck to one wall. Diners so lucky as to be invited to eat in the bus have a wooden plank (with much beloved initial carving) to eat off, where the dashboard once was. Here we are, happy as clams, waiting for our perfect burger plates. And yes, they were perfect! You can take the old hippie out of OB, but you can't really ever take OB out of the old hippie.

Busy

Busy and happy. Jana and family are here, so there has been no time for blogging or much of anything else. This morning, Alex is back to sleep and doesn't seem to mind my typing next to him. So I will include a few photos and log off. Lynlee at the beach and with Shelley and Brandon in Yuma. Details to follow. Yay for grandkids!

Refrigerator Art

For those of you who are acquainted with my fridge, this may come as a shock. It is more tidy. Before you faint, it is not the INSIDE that is tidy. And of course I didn't actually say TIDY, just MORE TIDY. We bought a big plastic package of magnetic clips at Costco on Saturday, and I came right home and threw away all the extraneous garbage on the fridge doors. So the magnetic roach is gone, along with the yellowing cartoons and the magnetic business cards from people I can't remember and don't want to call. Rubios and Chili's made the cut - gotta have their numbers handy. And the dentist remains, although I'd love to pitch him. What is mostly left is a grandmotherly shrine to the cutest kids ever. I feel it is my duty to share their glory with anyone and everyone at the least hint of interest - and of course they must be prominently displayed on the freezer door. Now the darlings are all lined up, as though by magic, held to the door with new magnetic clips - that match! Yowza! Who's fridge is that anyway?! In honor of the grandkid shrine, I will be sharing some fridge photos in my next few blogs, starting with the latest Alex picture. See above. I know you are interested.

The Other Blog

It isn't that I haven't been blogging - it's just that I've been blogging on the Other Blog: the bug blog, which keeps me busy each day. If you haven't checked it out yet, take a look at today's quiz. I decided if Ken Jennings can do Tuesday Trivia, I can do a bug quiz each Tuesday. Ants are the topic today - so find out how much you really know about them by clicking here. The really good news is that tomorrow I'll blog the answers to today's quiz, so I won't have to come up with another bug to discuss. Not that there is a shortage of bugs. Give it a try and let me know what you think. Or shoot me a message if there is a favorite bug you'd like to see featured. And if Ken happens on my blog, I hope the questions challenge him just a little.

Bug Blog

We've just put up a new blog for the pest control business with information on bugs and links to bug sites on the internet. Check it out on my list of blogs to the right - and let me know what kinds of things people might like to see on a blog like this. It is linked to our website, where more information is available on pest-related topics. I started the blog after listening to a lecture on blogs and wiki's at READ San Diego last month. The topic was geared toward libraries and literary sites, but I thought it would apply just as well to the pest control business. Websites with blogs and links seem to garner a higher spot on the Google list when people are trying to find businesses in their area. Eventually, I'd like to get some photos and videos from the field. Just waiting for a good Verminator-type job to record.

Independence Day Pix

It's fun to see the little cousins (second cousins?) got together for the Fourth. Here they are in their best patriotic poses.

Alex Pix

Here are a couple of recent pictures of Alex. I guess any picture of Alex is recent, as he just turned two months old! As you can see, he is a happy, mellow little guy. Pretty chill for a white guy. It was so fun seeing him last weekend. He slept through most of the train ride on the Heber Creeper, enjoying the time with family. I'll admit to hogging him - gotta claim all the time I can when I am there!

Richard Henry Dana Jr. High

Ellary promoted recently from Dana Middle School, aka Richard Henry Dana Jr. High. This is the school we went to as kids, so returning for the promotion exercises once again caught me in a nostalgic mood. The ceremony was set up on the field, on a very hot morning. As I looked for a seat with a good camera angle, I noticed the school band playing "I'm a Believer" by The Monkees. Now, if you had told me when I was in Jr. High that 40 years in the future the school band would be playing a Monkee song as a prelude to commencement I would have thought you were crazy! Monkee muzak! The whole thing took me back to the terrors and high jinx of Jr. High, so I stopped off after the exercises to peek into Mrs. Erber's old room. The grand dame is long gone, but I thought I heard her ghost clicking her teeth in disgust at the decline of civilization as verified by the outrageous selections of the school band.

Photo Safari

The Photo Safari through Africa (at the Wild Animal Park) was a blast! Jana and Mike bought us the package for Mother's Day, and we took the safari last week. It is the best way to really get to see and interact with the animals. They put 8-10 people in the back of an open bed truck and cruise through the exhibit, stopping for photo ops and to feed the giraffes that come around. Here are a few of the pictures we took. I especially like the close-up of a very friendly (hungry?) giraffe.

Pirates and Princesses

Here is a small sampling from the birthday pictures - juxtaposed to emphasize the difference between the Princess party and the Pirate party. Both had lots of fun. Hard to believe they are three!

Capt'n Gavin

Gavin and Lynlee turned three this weekend. While Lynlee was entertaining princesses in West Jordan, Gavin had a swashbuckling time in Ramona. Pictures have yet to arrive from the princess party (ahem) but we have the pirates covered. Capt'n Gavin hauled in sufficient booty to last him another year. Yo ho! More pictures to follow - but here is the good captain himself - courtesy of Photoshop, of course.

Alligators All Around

I don't have any new pictures of Alex, but just realized I hadn't posted any pictures of the nursery. The room is Jana's design, based on the Maurice Sendak children's book, "Alligators All Around" and the Carole King song inspired by the book. Good thing I was in Utah longer than I planned - this was a project! The alligators were quite saucy, demanding all kinds of perks, like hammocks and unicycles. Glad we didn't paint them with teeth!

Cinco de Mayo

On May 5th we took Lynlee to temple square for a photo shoot. The flowers were spectacular, reminding me of my visit there four years ago when Shannon and Clark were married. Here are a couple of pictures from Cinco de Mayo '08. This is fast becoming a gramma blog. Oh well! PS: If you are worried that we let Lynlee pick that daffodil, I should explain. There were volunteers taking out "spent" flowers, so we asked for one of the discards for the photo. Better in Lynlee's hand than in the trash!

Back to Mac

I know it sounds wimpy to all the PC people, and there are a definite majority of you, but it is great to get home to my Mac! For one thing, I have been dying to post photos of Alex but have not been able to manage it at Jana's house. Oh, I could have asked for her to walk me through it - but there were other fun things to do. So finally, I can post my own pictures on my own blog with my own computer. I miss Jana, Mike, Lynlee and Alex tremendously - but I love coming home to my Mac! Here are a couple of my favorite shots. More will undoubtedly follow.

Clark is Right

Now you know what it takes to get me blogging again! Glad there is still someone there who cares to look, after all this time.
Jana and Alex are doing great, coming home tomorrow. Aren't babies fun?! I will be here until May 7, taking hundreds of pictures and trying to be helpful.
Give a great big Aunt Wendy kiss to little Julia. I can hardly wait to see her!

It's a Boy!

Alexander Patrick Tvedtnes, 7 lbs. 5 oz., born this morning just after 10:30. Jana and Mike are doing great, and Lynlee welcomed her new brother - cautiously. If I were home, there would be pictures. Lots were taken, and a sampling will be posted when I get home - before if possible. For now, you'll just have to take the totally unbiased word of the gramma that he is adorable, gorgeous and absolutely perfect!