It's Bloody *H*O*T* Outside! (07.31.2006)

The temperature outside of the house reads 93.7 degrees, but in the house, it's a cool 76 degrees. Thank god we purchased the Unico system years ago. It's one thing when you're living in a construction zone - but you sure as hell don't have to suffer living in a construction zone! I just came back in the house from being outside for a few minutes. The air is stifling. If it was a more tangible object, I bet you could cut it with a knife. I hope you are all staying cool wherever you are.


It's a local record!

OK --- I added this for two reasons:

1. The background track reminds me of hot humid days in the summer.
2. I've always wanted to jump in and play with manta rays, too!

Our Handprints (07.29.2006)

The construction crew poured cement into the sidewalks in front of the house. So, when it was just about dried, Dad called us all out and we put our handprints into the concrete. They turned out really well! :O) We've immortalised ourselves. How awesome is that?


Looking at the new sidewalk from the left towards the railroad tracks.


Our handprints! Mine, Minnie, Anita and Dad. 2006.

Movie Night @ Home (07.28.2006)

I had two free Blockbuster coupons that expired on July 31, so we decided to go and check out some new flicks. One of the movies we chose was, "Eight Below", which was a good movie. It was exciting and scary in parts. Thankfully, we were able to moderate the movie when it was super scary or if there was a part that the kids didn't understand. Both kids stayed up and watched the entire two hours!


Minnie releasing the third butterfly he's caught this summer.


Minnie kicking back before watching the movie ...


and Yummers is getting ready to snack!

Tall Ship Celebration: Bay City, MI (07.22.2006)

We saw the billboards advertising the Tall Ship Celebration on our way to and from the Family Reunion this year and also in the newspaper. It looked like it would be fun, and we left this morning on our adventure in Bay City. It was an easy two hour drive there.

The weather was sunny and warm, and the lines to tour each ship were very long. Several of the larger vessels had lines of two and a half hours. Phew ... We saw two of the eleven ships available for touring, the E.M. Cotter and the Madeline. The kids also learned about geodes and rocks and wood carving. A nice older man who was demonstrating wood carving made Anita a little wood top for her to take away. A very nice gesture indeed!


We are driving towards the dock to the celebration!


The kids are sitting in front of the Bay City fountain just inside of the admission gates.


Looking up at the ship's mast and riggings.


We are crossing the bridge over the Saginaw River. Here are a few of the ships.


The kids are on the E.M. Cotter(originally known as the William S. Grattan) from Buffalo, NY. This is the world's oldest working fireboat built the same year as our house in 1900! :O)


Taken from the E.M. Cotter, this is a picture of the Nina. This Nina was reconstructed using 15th century shipbuilding methods in Bras(z)il. (Yes, this is a replica of the original Nina that was in Christopher Colombus' fleet in 1492 as he sailed to the New World.)


On the E.M. Cotter, here are Captain Anita ...


and Captain Minnie!


This was the kids favourite activity of the day.


On the way back, we noticed some pretty cool-looking stores in downtown Bay City including this one...

Reading Event @ The Library (07.20.2006)

We went to another reading event held at the library. The featured animals included iguanas, cockatiel, milkweed snake, boa constrictor, chincilla and the two animals below. It was a wee bit embaressing to see some of the mothers creep out 'cos of the snake the holder had around his neck as he walked around the perimeter of the room. In any case, no bites - no worries - just good fun. :O)


Here's looking at Minnie. (If you're wondering why he looks strange, it's 'cos he cut off a bit of his hair in the front this morning!)


a baby alligator ...


a patagonian cavy ...

Repaving Our Street

Our street was one of the streets that the city decided to get repaved this year. The contractors started on the project last week and have been moving along at a good clip. They were even considerate enough to make a little ramp for us to get in and out when I went over and asked them. (Who says construction guys are intimidating?) As you can see from the picture below, we have the only gravel driveway on the street.

The construction is supposed to last through the first week of September. Hopefully, the crew will complete construction earlier than their estimate. Then, I can take my newspaper subsccription off "Vacation" mode and start enjoying reading it again! :O)


Looking down the street towards Ann Arbor Trail.

Top Scottish Bands: JAMC / Aztec Camera / Primal Scream

Some people forget that Scotland has had its share of brilliant bands. Teenage Fanclub, who being one of my favourite all-time bands, happens to fall in this category.

Let's not forget several other brilliant bands who have helped me survive being a teenager and really spoke words that made sense like The Jesus and Mary Chain, Aztec Camera / Roddy Frame, or Primal Scream. My only regret is not seeing Aztec Camera or Roddy Frame live. One of these days, I will see him live. But, it looks like I'd have to "cross the pond" to see him now. Not very many journeys to the States nowadays. Michael bought me a live Roddy Frame CD for me from eBay which is the closest thing to hearing him live at least. :O) Well, that and YouTube, it seems!

Without further ado, some videos courtesy of the great users of YouTube:

The Jesus and Mary Chain: Darklands


Aztec Camera: "Walk Out To Winter" Absolutely brilliant song!


Primal Scream: "Movin' On Up" from the fabulous 1992 album "Screamdelica"

Songs of the Day: Teenage Fanclub "Ain't That Enough" and James "Sit Down"

The kids are with me during the day while I'm working on my current project. On the whole, it's been a good experience. They generally play well together. This morning, they were on a plane that crashed and one of their Pokemon flew them to another island. before they landed. Fun, indeed.

I have uploaded some of the video we've taken on YouTube. I did a search over the weekend for bands and found a lot of good stuff. So, as a toast to my youth, good memories, a sense of feeling good and of course, the season of Summer, I present my Songs of the Day by Teenage FanClub and James courtesy of some good users of YouTube. I had the pleasure of meeting both bands in my younger band-watching days. They were very very nice guys and gracious enough to get us on the guest list and hang out with us.

Teenage FanClub - "Ain't That Enough"


James - "Sit Down"


Sing it!
"... Now I'’m relieved to hear
That you've been to some far out places
It's hard to carry on
When you feel all alone
Now I've swung back down again
It's worse than it was before
If I hadn'’t seen such riches
I could live with being poor ..."

I don't have my old James t-shirts anymore unfortunately. Does anyone remember how everyone (at least in Europe) had a James t-shirt in the 90's? It was an awesome phenomenom. The energy at their gigs was amazing - a swarm of jumping people. Amazing shows and times.

AITP 2006 (07.07.2006 - 07.09.2006)

It's another year of Art in the Park in Plymouth. We've went all three days and saw Yummers' old friend, Ashley and her Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Theresa, on Friday night. It was really cool to reconnect with them. :O)


It's Art in the Park 2006!


Yummers and her stylish bracelet from the Arts & Scraps booth.


Anita & Minnie posing by a wood (yes, wood) sculpture of a pregnant woman.


"No shoes, no shirt, no problem ..."

Fourth of July Weekend (06.30.2006 - 07.04.2006)

We went up North to attend the annual family reunion with Granny and Groom Gram over Fourth of July weekend. There was no traffic heading up and coming back home was pretty easy, too. The pictures below says all! :O)


This is where we stayed this and last summer during the family reunion. It will be the last time, too, since the current owner, John, has sold this lot to make 14 beachfront condominiums.


Home sweet home for three days ...


close to the beach of Lake Huron ...


hanging out with cousins ...


singing for relatives ... (They did several refrains of "Folsum Prison Blues.")


riding on the River Boat Queen...


as Captain Anita ...


and Captain Minnie ...


looking for soaring eagles at the scenic overlook over Foote Pond ..


People of all ages were running up and down this sand dune. Boats and a beach were at the very bottom.


The kids posing in front of the Lumberman's Moment dedicated to the lumberjacks who chopped down huge virgin pine trees. According to a US Park Ranger, there is a small section of virgin tree forest left in the Upper Peninsula.


Heading down 250+ stairs to the lumberman's wanigan. What is a wanigan?


A wanigan is a floating camp / cook shanty / repair center for the lumberjacks. Here is an inside picture.


Another stair walk down and climb up - 300 stairs!


Here are some of the freshwater springs of Iargo Springs.

Hope your holiday was equally as nice!