I finally reached six digits! No, I'm not talking about the six-figure number most working stiffs hope to reach. In this case, I'm talking about my car's odometer. Yes, after six-and-a-half years of dedicated service, my 2005 Saab 9-3 ("Birgitta") has officially reached 100,000 miles.
Of course it's not as exciting as it was in the old days of analog odometers, when you would see all five of the wheels turn over at once. But still, it's something worth taking a picture of and blogging about (and yes, I stopped the car to take the pictures).
It's only the second time I've personally witnessed a six-figure arrival on my car. The first car I've had that reached that milestone was my first car, the 1981 Honda Civic. But as luck would have it, I inadvertently loaned it to a friend the day it crossed over. I was heartbroken. When my 1989 Plymouth Reliant crossed over, however, I made sure I saw it.
This time it's different though. Why? Because this was the first car I bought brand new — I drove it off the lot myself. So these 100,000 miles were mostly driven by me. Which is why I've not let anyone else drive my car these past couple of days. So here's to you Birgitta for 100,000 great miles, with many more to come!
Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Sunday, August 07, 2011
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Another Weekend Project
Yeah, it was Halloween and Day of the Dead this weekend. But despite these things, the joys of home ownership continue on. This week's project: Painting the front doors.
James paints the door trim. (10/31/2009)
We've had the new doors for almost a year now. They came primed. But we never got around to painting them until now. (We wanted to do it before the wet rainy season kicks in).
James while painting the front doors. (10/31/2009)
The door color: Whole Wheat, from Dunn Edwards. I did the majority of the doors themselves. Tim is taking on the white trim. You wouldn't think painting a front door would take very long, but it's time consuming. But they look great now, so we're happy.
James paints the door trim. (10/31/2009)
We've had the new doors for almost a year now. They came primed. But we never got around to painting them until now. (We wanted to do it before the wet rainy season kicks in).
James while painting the front doors. (10/31/2009)
The door color: Whole Wheat, from Dunn Edwards. I did the majority of the doors themselves. Tim is taking on the white trim. You wouldn't think painting a front door would take very long, but it's time consuming. But they look great now, so we're happy.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
The Truman Show
In a world filled with uncertainties, there are many unanswered questions. What is the meaning of life? Why can't the world's nations peacefully coexist? And most importantly, why haven't Tim and James updated their blog in months?
James and Truman's first picture together. (03/14/2009)
We can't tell you bupkis about the first two questions. But the third question can be answered in a single word: Truman.
Truman the day we brought him home. (03/14/2009)
Yes, for the last seven months, our lives have revolved around a cute little miniature schnauzer puppy we adopted in March. Since then you could say our lives could easily be called "The Truman Show." And it goes without saying, we spend much more time taking care of this little fella, which cut into our blogging time.
Truman was so small when we first got him. (03/14/2009)
A birthday gift to me from Tim, Truman has been a welcome addition to our family. Most of the time anyway. It depends on if Truman is being the little angel that he sometimes is or the little devil that he sometimes is.
Truman's first bath. (04/04/2009)
We were glad to have a dog again, since it had been almost a year-and-a-half since we had to put down our beloved Simon. Although frankly, we were a little leery of going through the puppy phase. It was hard for a couple of months, but now that he's nine months old, it's a lot easier than when he was three or four months.
Truman in the car. (05/30/2009)
A lot of people ask me about his name. I wanted him to have a presidential sounding name, so I named him after president Harry S. Truman. As it turns out, our pup seems to share some of the traits of the former president.
Truman looking adorable. (06/18/2009)
Harry S. Truman was a feisty little son-of-a-gun who was often referred to as "Give 'Em Hell Harry." Our pup — who we jokingly call "Harry Ass Truman" — is also a feisty little son-of-a-gun who gives us hell quite a bit. But then moments later, he can be an irresistable little angel.
Tim & Truman. (07/11/2009)
We're still working on eradicating some of his bad habits (like his propensity to steal our socks). But despite his occasional behavior issues (and what puppy doesn't have them?) he is definitely a joy. Welcome to our family Truman!
James and Truman's first picture together. (03/14/2009)
We can't tell you bupkis about the first two questions. But the third question can be answered in a single word: Truman.
Truman the day we brought him home. (03/14/2009)
Yes, for the last seven months, our lives have revolved around a cute little miniature schnauzer puppy we adopted in March. Since then you could say our lives could easily be called "The Truman Show." And it goes without saying, we spend much more time taking care of this little fella, which cut into our blogging time.
Truman was so small when we first got him. (03/14/2009)
A birthday gift to me from Tim, Truman has been a welcome addition to our family. Most of the time anyway. It depends on if Truman is being the little angel that he sometimes is or the little devil that he sometimes is.
Truman's first bath. (04/04/2009)
We were glad to have a dog again, since it had been almost a year-and-a-half since we had to put down our beloved Simon. Although frankly, we were a little leery of going through the puppy phase. It was hard for a couple of months, but now that he's nine months old, it's a lot easier than when he was three or four months.
Truman in the car. (05/30/2009)
A lot of people ask me about his name. I wanted him to have a presidential sounding name, so I named him after president Harry S. Truman. As it turns out, our pup seems to share some of the traits of the former president.
Truman looking adorable. (06/18/2009)
Harry S. Truman was a feisty little son-of-a-gun who was often referred to as "Give 'Em Hell Harry." Our pup — who we jokingly call "Harry Ass Truman" — is also a feisty little son-of-a-gun who gives us hell quite a bit. But then moments later, he can be an irresistable little angel.
Tim & Truman. (07/11/2009)
We're still working on eradicating some of his bad habits (like his propensity to steal our socks). But despite his occasional behavior issues (and what puppy doesn't have them?) he is definitely a joy. Welcome to our family Truman!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
My Dad's Photography Gets Published
Last year, in an effort to digitally preserve the Kodachrome slides in storage at our family's homes, we purchased a dual-bed scanner. I scanned some slides and uploaded them to Flickr. A couple of weeks later, I got an e-mail from an author interested in using a couple of slides for a book about the history of snapshot photography in America. One thing led to another, and now four of my dad's photos can now be seen in Who We Were: A Snapshot History of America.
Who We Were: A Snapshot History of America. (09/18/2008)
My copy of the 240-page, hardcover book arrived today, and it's gorgeous! The book tells the story of America through snapshots taken by amateur photographers from the 1890s through the early 1970s. My dad's photos appear in the chapter about Kodachrome slides.
The pages with my dad's snapshots. (09/18/2008)
According to the year printed on the slides, the photos were taken in 1962. The photo subjects were my cousins Albert, Lupe, David and Pete, who at the time, were living in Davenport, near Santa Cruz. You can check out the full slide set here.
Alberto. (03/1962)
When I first scanned these slides, I remember finding it funny to see pictures of my cousins so young. I remember them being much older than me (David, the baby in the picture, was seven years older than me and used to tease me a lot as a kid). Lupe, the girl in the photo, had kids who were not too much younger than me. I don't think I ever met Pete, because he died in an accident before I was born, or shortly thereafter.
Lupe. (03/1962)
Those pictures of them look great in print. The authors — Michael Williams, Richard Cahan and Nicholas Osborn — kindly sent signed copies of the book to both my dad, and to my cousins' mom, my Aunt Amelia. My dad was delighted to receive it, and so was my aunt.
My cousin David. (03/1962)
But as much as I was fascinated by seeing our old family slides, I was equally fascinated by many of the other old family photos in the book. For example, I loved the series of photos showing people in front of houses they built to qualify for the Homestead Act, which offered 160 acres of free land to people who lived on the land for five years. The houses are shacks by today's standards, but you can see the pride in their faces.
Pete. (03/1962)
I also loved the amateur photographer in Elgin, Illinois who sought to record the history of the John F. Kennedy assassination by taking at least two dozen color photos of his black & white TV screen as he watched coverage of the days following the shooting. I also had no idea until I received the book that Apollo 16 astronaut Charles M. Duke Jr. actually left a snapshot of his family on the surface of the moon during a 1972 lunar landing. Fascinating stuff.
This one of Paul didn't make the book, but I'll still post it here. (03/1962)
If you're interested in getting a copy of this book, you can order it here. If you order it through this alternate site, you'll receive a deluxe edition which will be signed and will include a genuine vintage snapshot considered for the book (the snapshot I received, acccording to the writing on the back, was of Helen & Bob Boehm, of Los Altos, CA, on their 30th wedding anniversary in 1978).
Signed by the authors, complete with an original photo. (09/18/2008)
Congratulations dad on getting published! If you want to see more of my dad's slides, check out the complete collection.
Who We Were: A Snapshot History of America. (09/18/2008)
My copy of the 240-page, hardcover book arrived today, and it's gorgeous! The book tells the story of America through snapshots taken by amateur photographers from the 1890s through the early 1970s. My dad's photos appear in the chapter about Kodachrome slides.
The pages with my dad's snapshots. (09/18/2008)
According to the year printed on the slides, the photos were taken in 1962. The photo subjects were my cousins Albert, Lupe, David and Pete, who at the time, were living in Davenport, near Santa Cruz. You can check out the full slide set here.
Alberto. (03/1962)
When I first scanned these slides, I remember finding it funny to see pictures of my cousins so young. I remember them being much older than me (David, the baby in the picture, was seven years older than me and used to tease me a lot as a kid). Lupe, the girl in the photo, had kids who were not too much younger than me. I don't think I ever met Pete, because he died in an accident before I was born, or shortly thereafter.
Lupe. (03/1962)
Those pictures of them look great in print. The authors — Michael Williams, Richard Cahan and Nicholas Osborn — kindly sent signed copies of the book to both my dad, and to my cousins' mom, my Aunt Amelia. My dad was delighted to receive it, and so was my aunt.
My cousin David. (03/1962)
But as much as I was fascinated by seeing our old family slides, I was equally fascinated by many of the other old family photos in the book. For example, I loved the series of photos showing people in front of houses they built to qualify for the Homestead Act, which offered 160 acres of free land to people who lived on the land for five years. The houses are shacks by today's standards, but you can see the pride in their faces.
Pete. (03/1962)
I also loved the amateur photographer in Elgin, Illinois who sought to record the history of the John F. Kennedy assassination by taking at least two dozen color photos of his black & white TV screen as he watched coverage of the days following the shooting. I also had no idea until I received the book that Apollo 16 astronaut Charles M. Duke Jr. actually left a snapshot of his family on the surface of the moon during a 1972 lunar landing. Fascinating stuff.
This one of Paul didn't make the book, but I'll still post it here. (03/1962)
If you're interested in getting a copy of this book, you can order it here. If you order it through this alternate site, you'll receive a deluxe edition which will be signed and will include a genuine vintage snapshot considered for the book (the snapshot I received, acccording to the writing on the back, was of Helen & Bob Boehm, of Los Altos, CA, on their 30th wedding anniversary in 1978).
Signed by the authors, complete with an original photo. (09/18/2008)
Congratulations dad on getting published! If you want to see more of my dad's slides, check out the complete collection.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Move Over David Hasselhoff
My rise to fame in Germany is continuing at meteoritic speed. Less than a month after one of my photos was published on a German website about celebrity graves, another one of my photos has caught their eye. If this keeps up, I'll be, as Tom put it, "the David Hasselhoff of shutterbugs."
Our photo of the David O. Selznick grave on the website. (09/09/2008)
This time the requested photo was of the grave belonging to David O. Selznick, legendary Hollywood producer of such cinematic classics as Rebecca and Gone With the Wind. I'm not sure why the webmaster passed over my photos of such A-list graves as Clark Gable, Bette Davis or Walt Disney, and opted for the less famous Telly Savalas and the behind-the-scenes movie mogul Selznick. I guess it's kind of like the French and their affinity for Jerry Lewis.
The full-size photo of the David O. Selznick grave. (02/10/2008)
Oh well, either way, I'm happy to contribute. If you care to, check out the Selznick article.
Ich bin ein Berliner!
Our photo of the David O. Selznick grave on the website. (09/09/2008)
This time the requested photo was of the grave belonging to David O. Selznick, legendary Hollywood producer of such cinematic classics as Rebecca and Gone With the Wind. I'm not sure why the webmaster passed over my photos of such A-list graves as Clark Gable, Bette Davis or Walt Disney, and opted for the less famous Telly Savalas and the behind-the-scenes movie mogul Selznick. I guess it's kind of like the French and their affinity for Jerry Lewis.
The full-size photo of the David O. Selznick grave. (02/10/2008)
Oh well, either way, I'm happy to contribute. If you care to, check out the Selznick article.
Ich bin ein Berliner!
Friday, September 05, 2008
A Tribute to Pecos
Some unfortunate news. We learned today that our pals Ryan and Laura had to put their beloved cat Pecos to sleep today. Pecos had been ill with kidney failure and had gotten progressively worse. I know it was very difficult for Ryan and Laura because Pecos was a very special cat to them. He was a special cat to me too, since he once was my cat too.
Pecos. (12/27/2007)
It was 1995 when I decided to get a cat. I had befriended another tenant in the apartment building I lived in at the time. I can't remember her name for the life of me right now, but I do remember that she dated Dwight Yoakam for a while.
Anyway, she had three or four cats, including one that just had a litter of kittens. She invited me to her apartment to play with the kittens, and I couldn't resist taking one home. Only one male and one female were still available. I chose the male because he seemed adventurous, while his sister was much shyer.
Pecos, left, with his big sis Sumatra, right. (11/09/2006)
I had him for a couple of months. As it turned out, however, I wasn't a very good cat papa. I was single and had a job that required long hours. Subsequently, Pecos would be home alone all day. In addition, my job also required travel. During a trip to Dallas that year, I left him at Tom and Christine's so they could cat sit.
When I got back, they had a heart-to-heart with me, letting me know that I wasn't taking very good care of Pecos. He had fleas and worms, and didn't have any other cats or people to play with all day. Ryan and Laura were willing to adopt him, and so they did.
Pecos naps with big sister Sumatra. (11/08/2006)
It was one of those things that turned out to be the best move for everyone. Pecos now had a wonderful home where he was cared for and loved for the rest of his life. He also had a big sister Sumatra to keep him company when Ryan and Laura were at work. And I know Pecos brought a lot of joy and happiness to Ryan and Laura too.
Although Pecos may have had a rough start his first couple of months, he was very much a happy cat until his final days. He will be missed very much.
Pecos. (12/27/2007)
It was 1995 when I decided to get a cat. I had befriended another tenant in the apartment building I lived in at the time. I can't remember her name for the life of me right now, but I do remember that she dated Dwight Yoakam for a while.
Anyway, she had three or four cats, including one that just had a litter of kittens. She invited me to her apartment to play with the kittens, and I couldn't resist taking one home. Only one male and one female were still available. I chose the male because he seemed adventurous, while his sister was much shyer.
Pecos, left, with his big sis Sumatra, right. (11/09/2006)
I had him for a couple of months. As it turned out, however, I wasn't a very good cat papa. I was single and had a job that required long hours. Subsequently, Pecos would be home alone all day. In addition, my job also required travel. During a trip to Dallas that year, I left him at Tom and Christine's so they could cat sit.
When I got back, they had a heart-to-heart with me, letting me know that I wasn't taking very good care of Pecos. He had fleas and worms, and didn't have any other cats or people to play with all day. Ryan and Laura were willing to adopt him, and so they did.
Pecos naps with big sister Sumatra. (11/08/2006)
It was one of those things that turned out to be the best move for everyone. Pecos now had a wonderful home where he was cared for and loved for the rest of his life. He also had a big sister Sumatra to keep him company when Ryan and Laura were at work. And I know Pecos brought a lot of joy and happiness to Ryan and Laura too.
Although Pecos may have had a rough start his first couple of months, he was very much a happy cat until his final days. He will be missed very much.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
James & Tim: Mountain Bikers
In our effort to get a little more exercise, Tim and I just purchased a couple of mountain bikes. It probably sounds a little out of character for us, since we haven't exactly been Mr. and Mr. Weekend Warrior or anything. But we've began appreciating outdoor recreational activities a little more since our trip to Colorado last month, where we surprisingly enjoyed things like hiking and white water rafting.
Tim takes his new mountain bike for a spin. (08/27/2008)
It turns out there's a really cool cars-not-allowed bike path about a mile from our house, so biking seemed the perfect fit. The other reason we chose biking was because we both already knew how to ride a bike (compared to say, surfing or mountain climbing, which would require a lot more instruction before we could do it).
We knew we were going to ride a combination of road and trails, so we opted for mountain bikes instead of road bikes, since you can ride a mountain bike on the road, but not vice versa. We got them at Orange Cycle, a cute little family-owned store that's been been peddling bikes (pun intended) in old towne Orange since 1969. They were really nice there; we highly recommend that store.
We found a bike for Tim in stock, but they had to special order mine since they don't stock too many size 15 mountain bikes (meant for short people like me). The day we picked mine up, we rode them home (just over 3 miles). It's taking me a little time to get used to the gear shifting, since the bicycle I rode as a kid had no gears, but I'm catching on.
James on his new mountain bike. (08/27/2008)
Yesterday after work we went out on the bike trail and it was a lot of fun. We were surprised at how far we were able to get in a short amount of time. I definitely look forward to doing it more.
BTW, how lame is this? In all my 39 years, I never knew that bicycle shorts had a pad inside. All this time, I just thought bicycle shorts were tight lycra shorts and nothing more. It never even dawned on me that they had a pad for your nacho (the little area that, as they say, is "nacho ass, and nacho balls.") But let's just say that extra padding is a very welcome thing after you've been sitting on that hard seat a while.
So if anyone wants to go riding, let us know!
Tim takes his new mountain bike for a spin. (08/27/2008)
It turns out there's a really cool cars-not-allowed bike path about a mile from our house, so biking seemed the perfect fit. The other reason we chose biking was because we both already knew how to ride a bike (compared to say, surfing or mountain climbing, which would require a lot more instruction before we could do it).
We knew we were going to ride a combination of road and trails, so we opted for mountain bikes instead of road bikes, since you can ride a mountain bike on the road, but not vice versa. We got them at Orange Cycle, a cute little family-owned store that's been been peddling bikes (pun intended) in old towne Orange since 1969. They were really nice there; we highly recommend that store.
We found a bike for Tim in stock, but they had to special order mine since they don't stock too many size 15 mountain bikes (meant for short people like me). The day we picked mine up, we rode them home (just over 3 miles). It's taking me a little time to get used to the gear shifting, since the bicycle I rode as a kid had no gears, but I'm catching on.
James on his new mountain bike. (08/27/2008)
Yesterday after work we went out on the bike trail and it was a lot of fun. We were surprised at how far we were able to get in a short amount of time. I definitely look forward to doing it more.
BTW, how lame is this? In all my 39 years, I never knew that bicycle shorts had a pad inside. All this time, I just thought bicycle shorts were tight lycra shorts and nothing more. It never even dawned on me that they had a pad for your nacho (the little area that, as they say, is "nacho ass, and nacho balls.") But let's just say that extra padding is a very welcome thing after you've been sitting on that hard seat a while.
So if anyone wants to go riding, let us know!
Here's to You Katie!
We were saddened to hear that a friend of ours passed away recently. That friend is Katie, whom we first met when a big group of us took a cruise to Alaska in 2004. To put it in context, Katie is the aunt of our friends Christine (of Christine & Cassidy) and her brother Eric (of Eric & Dana), which would make her the sister of Christine and Eric's mom, our friend Jean. (I know ... it's complex).
Katie on our Alaskan cruise. (07/30/2004)
We hadn't known Katie prior to the cruise. When we first met, we took a liking to her immediately. Like her sister Jean, Katie was funnier than heck. She and I had quite a few things in common. For example, we're both numismatists. Plus, we both can spend hours on slot machines (she was easy-to-find on the cruise ship ... all you needed to do was check the casino).
It was during that cruise that I learned the lyrics to a song I first heard in an old Carmen Miranda movie. The song was called K-K-K-Katy (Pronounced "kuh-kuh-kuh-Katy," like a stutter). It was a silly but endearing little song that I would sing when I saw her each day.
Jean and her sister Katie at Ray & Brena's wedding. (06/24/2006)
Katie lived in Oregon, so we didn't see her a lot after the cruise. But we did get to see her one more time in 2006 when she was in town for our friend Ray's wedding (Ray was also on the Alaska cruise). That was the first time (and now, sadly, the only time) the entire Alaska cruise bunch had been reunited since the cruise ended.
Katie passed away in June, but we didn't hear about it until recently. From what I gather, Katie didn't want any elaborate services, so the immediate family kept things fairly small with plans for a memorial service a few weeks later. Well that memorial service is this week, and Jean, Christine and Eric are currently up in Oregon celebrating Katie's memory with her friends and family.
Katie with the whole Alaska gang. (06/24/2006)
So with Katie in mind, I'll sing the little song I sang each day when I saw her:
"K-K-K-Katie
Beautiful Katie
You're the only g-g-g-girl that I adore
When the m-m-m-moon shines
Over the cow shed
I'll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door"
Here's to you Katie!
Katie on our Alaskan cruise. (07/30/2004)
We hadn't known Katie prior to the cruise. When we first met, we took a liking to her immediately. Like her sister Jean, Katie was funnier than heck. She and I had quite a few things in common. For example, we're both numismatists. Plus, we both can spend hours on slot machines (she was easy-to-find on the cruise ship ... all you needed to do was check the casino).
It was during that cruise that I learned the lyrics to a song I first heard in an old Carmen Miranda movie. The song was called K-K-K-Katy (Pronounced "kuh-kuh-kuh-Katy," like a stutter). It was a silly but endearing little song that I would sing when I saw her each day.
Jean and her sister Katie at Ray & Brena's wedding. (06/24/2006)
Katie lived in Oregon, so we didn't see her a lot after the cruise. But we did get to see her one more time in 2006 when she was in town for our friend Ray's wedding (Ray was also on the Alaska cruise). That was the first time (and now, sadly, the only time) the entire Alaska cruise bunch had been reunited since the cruise ended.
Katie passed away in June, but we didn't hear about it until recently. From what I gather, Katie didn't want any elaborate services, so the immediate family kept things fairly small with plans for a memorial service a few weeks later. Well that memorial service is this week, and Jean, Christine and Eric are currently up in Oregon celebrating Katie's memory with her friends and family.
Katie with the whole Alaska gang. (06/24/2006)
So with Katie in mind, I'll sing the little song I sang each day when I saw her:
"K-K-K-Katie
Beautiful Katie
You're the only g-g-g-girl that I adore
When the m-m-m-moon shines
Over the cow shed
I'll be waiting at the k-k-k-kitchen door"
Here's to you Katie!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Six Years and a Little Miracle Gro
When we took our first trip to Hawaii in 2002, one of the souvenirs we brought back was a ready-for-planting shoot of a hibiscus plant. I think we got it at the ABC store for a couple of bucks.
First flower in six years. (08/12/08)
When we got back home, we planted it in a pot, and amazingly it continues to survive. The only problem was the plant never flowered. But that all changed today!
Yes, after six years of being nothing but green, the hibiscus plant finally opened up with a burst of color. Why it took so long, I'll never know. But when I asked Tim about it, he said he had started giving it plant food. Who'da thunk that plant food would make such a difference? :)
Coincidentally, I bought this hibiscus plant shoot on the same trip where I bought the Kona coffee plant that first bore fruit in 2005 and again in 2006. I guess everything I grow is a late bloomer.
First flower in six years. (08/12/08)
When we got back home, we planted it in a pot, and amazingly it continues to survive. The only problem was the plant never flowered. But that all changed today!
Yes, after six years of being nothing but green, the hibiscus plant finally opened up with a burst of color. Why it took so long, I'll never know. But when I asked Tim about it, he said he had started giving it plant food. Who'da thunk that plant food would make such a difference? :)
Coincidentally, I bought this hibiscus plant shoot on the same trip where I bought the Kona coffee plant that first bore fruit in 2005 and again in 2006. I guess everything I grow is a late bloomer.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
James ... Star Publicist
Okay, I think I'm about to take on a new career: Star Publicist. And by that I don't mean to be a publicist to the stars. But rather, as a publicist, I am the star! That is if you consider getting two front-page newspaper articles on your client in a single day. (brushing lint off my shoulders)
Tom made front page news. (08/09/08)
The client in this case is Tom, whose original screenplay Lowlifes morphed into the made-for-tv musical romance called The American Mall. The film, set to air on MTV on Monday, August 11 at 9pm, was based on Tom's work in retail sales.
When we were with Tom and Christine last weekend, he asked me for some help in putting together a press release (one of the duties I'm responsible for at work). I had written one for him back in 1996, which proved to be successful in two newspapers. So he thought I could do it again in advance of The American Mall.
The article on the Burbank Leader website.
At first I was a little reluctant. "Just take the one from 1996 and freshen it up," I lazily suggested to him. But Tom coaxed me into it, and once I got the first hook down, the magic literally began flowing from my fingertips! I didn't complete the press release that day, but I gave it its main structure, upon which Tom finished up with some additional details.
Then it was time to put Tom to work on his own publicity machine (he was not only my client, but my assistant too). After some coaching on the do's and don'ts of story pitches to the media, Tom followed through on the plan. And once again, we captured lightning in a bottle!
The article on the Santa Cruz Sentinel website.
Tom's two original and current home-town papers, the Santa Cruz Sentinel and Burbank Leader respectively, picked up the story pitch and ran front-page articles yesterday. I know, not exactly Vanity Fair, but still, pretty good for maybe a couple of hours of effort. The only target we didn't hit was the Los Angeles Times Scriptland column. Oh well. Two out of three ain't bad.
The final feather in my cap came today, when Tom wrote a thank-you e-mail to the Santa Cruz Sentinel reporter Tom Miller. Miller's response: "Of course, just doing my job. The press release was very well done so it was easy to work off of." The proof is in the pudding, my dear reader.
The American Mall.
Read the Santa Cruz Sentinel article here.
Read the Burbank Leader article here
Tom made front page news. (08/09/08)
The client in this case is Tom, whose original screenplay Lowlifes morphed into the made-for-tv musical romance called The American Mall. The film, set to air on MTV on Monday, August 11 at 9pm, was based on Tom's work in retail sales.
When we were with Tom and Christine last weekend, he asked me for some help in putting together a press release (one of the duties I'm responsible for at work). I had written one for him back in 1996, which proved to be successful in two newspapers. So he thought I could do it again in advance of The American Mall.
The article on the Burbank Leader website.
At first I was a little reluctant. "Just take the one from 1996 and freshen it up," I lazily suggested to him. But Tom coaxed me into it, and once I got the first hook down, the magic literally began flowing from my fingertips! I didn't complete the press release that day, but I gave it its main structure, upon which Tom finished up with some additional details.
Then it was time to put Tom to work on his own publicity machine (he was not only my client, but my assistant too). After some coaching on the do's and don'ts of story pitches to the media, Tom followed through on the plan. And once again, we captured lightning in a bottle!
The article on the Santa Cruz Sentinel website.
Tom's two original and current home-town papers, the Santa Cruz Sentinel and Burbank Leader respectively, picked up the story pitch and ran front-page articles yesterday. I know, not exactly Vanity Fair, but still, pretty good for maybe a couple of hours of effort. The only target we didn't hit was the Los Angeles Times Scriptland column. Oh well. Two out of three ain't bad.
The final feather in my cap came today, when Tom wrote a thank-you e-mail to the Santa Cruz Sentinel reporter Tom Miller. Miller's response: "Of course, just doing my job. The press release was very well done so it was easy to work off of." The proof is in the pudding, my dear reader.
The American Mall.
Read the Santa Cruz Sentinel article here.
Read the Burbank Leader article here
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Five Bucks a Gallon Coming Soon?
According to a recent poll by the CNN/Opinion Research Corp., 78% of respondents expect they will have to pay $5 for a gallon of gas by the end of the year. Well I've got some news for you. Five-dollar-a-gallon gasoline is already here!
$5.19 for regular at this Mobil station in Needles, CA. (06/15/2008)
Over the weekend we went to the desert to visit Tim's family for Father's Day. While there, we found a couple of gas stations in Needles, CA charging $5.19 for a gallon of regular. Ouch! Thankfully that's still the exception and not the rule. But how long will that be the case?
$5.19 for regular at this Mobil station in Needles, CA. (06/15/2008)
Over the weekend we went to the desert to visit Tim's family for Father's Day. While there, we found a couple of gas stations in Needles, CA charging $5.19 for a gallon of regular. Ouch! Thankfully that's still the exception and not the rule. But how long will that be the case?
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Disney World in 3D on Google Earth
I love Google Earth. I love to virtually thumbtack the places I've been, places I've lived, places I worked, etc. I even wrote a blog post when they launched Google Street View. But now the Walt Disney Corporation has made Google Earth even cooler with its new 3D building overlays of Walt Disney World parks!
Magic Kingdom on Google Earth with 3D Buildings on.
As soon as I read about it on The Disney Blog, I popped open Google Earth and turned on the 3D buildings setting. And sure enough, there was Epcot's Spaceship Earth in all its 3D glory. Jump to the Magic Kingdom, and I was delighted to see Cinderella's Castle
shimmering on the skyline.
Epcot on Google Earth with 3D Buildings on.
At Animal Kingdom, you can see Expedition Everest or the Tree of Life. And the Scorcerer's Apprentice Hat at Disney Studios looks great too! I've posted a few before/after shots, but they're not half as cool as seeing the real thing on Google Earth, where you can see it from any angle or depth.
Disney Studios on Google Earth with 3D Buildings on.
What's even better is that in the 3D building mode, you can click on any attraction and see a short video clip explaining what it's all about. Boy, those Disney folks know a little something about marketing, don't they?
Animal Kingdom on Google Earth with 3D Buildings on.
Check it out if you have Google Earth. And if you don't have Google Earth, you can download it here. It's totally FREE! Here's hoping they get around to doing the same thing with Disneyland in Anaheim ...
Magic Kingdom on Google Earth with 3D Buildings on.
As soon as I read about it on The Disney Blog, I popped open Google Earth and turned on the 3D buildings setting. And sure enough, there was Epcot's Spaceship Earth in all its 3D glory. Jump to the Magic Kingdom, and I was delighted to see Cinderella's Castle
shimmering on the skyline.
Epcot on Google Earth with 3D Buildings on.
At Animal Kingdom, you can see Expedition Everest or the Tree of Life. And the Scorcerer's Apprentice Hat at Disney Studios looks great too! I've posted a few before/after shots, but they're not half as cool as seeing the real thing on Google Earth, where you can see it from any angle or depth.
Disney Studios on Google Earth with 3D Buildings on.
What's even better is that in the 3D building mode, you can click on any attraction and see a short video clip explaining what it's all about. Boy, those Disney folks know a little something about marketing, don't they?
Animal Kingdom on Google Earth with 3D Buildings on.
Check it out if you have Google Earth. And if you don't have Google Earth, you can download it here. It's totally FREE! Here's hoping they get around to doing the same thing with Disneyland in Anaheim ...
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Ancient Chinese Secret No More
As often as Tim goes to Starbucks, you'd sooner expect him to know more about Chai Tea than he would about Tai Chi. Well, dear reader, that's no longer the case now that Tim and I have graduated from our 8-week course in Tai Chi (with perfect attendance to boot).
Our T'ai Chi Chih class warms up. (05/21/08)
Inspired by our pals Amy and Jon, we signed up for a Wednesday-evening Tai Chi class at nearby Grijalva Park in Orange. T'ai Chi Chih, as it's officially called, consists of 19 stand-alone movements and one pose. The series of movements is designed to promote balance, flexibility and mental clarity (and Heaven knows we can use more mental clarity).
James and Tim with Al, their T'ai Chi Chih instructor. (05/21/08)
And based on the condition of our teacher, Al Talberg, it works! The guy is literally 80 years old and has as much energy as Tim and I put together (and probably more when you consider that Al also teaches a walking course). Not only was the class informative, it was fun too. So next time you need someone to play the "bass drum," "work the pulley," or "pull taffy," give us a holla!
Our T'ai Chi Chih class warms up. (05/21/08)
Inspired by our pals Amy and Jon, we signed up for a Wednesday-evening Tai Chi class at nearby Grijalva Park in Orange. T'ai Chi Chih, as it's officially called, consists of 19 stand-alone movements and one pose. The series of movements is designed to promote balance, flexibility and mental clarity (and Heaven knows we can use more mental clarity).
James and Tim with Al, their T'ai Chi Chih instructor. (05/21/08)
And based on the condition of our teacher, Al Talberg, it works! The guy is literally 80 years old and has as much energy as Tim and I put together (and probably more when you consider that Al also teaches a walking course). Not only was the class informative, it was fun too. So next time you need someone to play the "bass drum," "work the pulley," or "pull taffy," give us a holla!
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Discards For You
We got our very first Christmas card of the season. The front of the card shows a lovely Christmas tree, beautifully decorated with festive ornaments. But open it up and it says, "The rest of your shit is at the Salvation Army. Happy Holidays."
A pic from the new card line available at DiscardsForYou.com
Naturally we laughed our asses off when we read it. As it turns out it's part of a new greeting card line called Discards for You (i.e. "When dat card won't do, dis card's for you!") This line of twisted greeting cards was started by our friends Laura S. and Christine F. who are just as twisted themselves (and we wouldn't have it any other way!) :)
So if you're looking for a greeting card that avoids the syrupy sweet tone and is a little more brutal, check out Discards for You.
A pic from the new card line available at DiscardsForYou.com
Naturally we laughed our asses off when we read it. As it turns out it's part of a new greeting card line called Discards for You (i.e. "When dat card won't do, dis card's for you!") This line of twisted greeting cards was started by our friends Laura S. and Christine F. who are just as twisted themselves (and we wouldn't have it any other way!) :)
So if you're looking for a greeting card that avoids the syrupy sweet tone and is a little more brutal, check out Discards for You.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Southern California Winds & Fires
In case anyone's wondering how we're affected by the fires that are plaguing the Southland, our home is not really anywhere near the fires. The closest one to us is the Santiago fire, which is perhaps 25 miles away from us, mostly in the undeveloped areas, although it has gotten close to some developments adjacent to it.
The winds snapped a large branch off our tree. (10/22/07)
Our house is not anywhere near hills or brush. We're basically surrounded by thousands of other homes that are also not near any hills or brush. But that's not to say that we haven't been affected by the winds or fires.
For example, we woke up Monday morning to find that the winds snapped a huge branch from our ash tree in the backyard. So there we were at 7:00 a.m. trying to cut the branch down to prevent any further damage (FYI, we don't normally dress in our pajamas when doing yard work).
James assesses the damage. (10/22/07)
Because half of the branch extended into the yard of our next door neighbors, it turned out we couldn't do much without enlisting their help later.
The other big thing we're dealing with is smoke. Lots of it. The whole sky is filled with smoke, as you can see from the picture I snapped during my morning commute to work. The smoke didn't let up the entire day, nor will it for several days to come.
The sun barely visible through the smoke. (10/22/07)
On top of all that, our swimming pool is absolutely filthy from all the leaves and dirt in the air. And the backyard is a total mess. Of course our problems are infinitesimal compared to the people who have been evacuated from their homes, or worse, lost their homes altogether.
Smoke billows about a mile from where I work. (10/22/07)
One last thing. I do want to give a shout-out to all the hardworking firefighters who have put themselves on the front lines in battling these intense fires. These guys rock, and we certainly appreciate their hard work.
The winds snapped a large branch off our tree. (10/22/07)
Our house is not anywhere near hills or brush. We're basically surrounded by thousands of other homes that are also not near any hills or brush. But that's not to say that we haven't been affected by the winds or fires.
For example, we woke up Monday morning to find that the winds snapped a huge branch from our ash tree in the backyard. So there we were at 7:00 a.m. trying to cut the branch down to prevent any further damage (FYI, we don't normally dress in our pajamas when doing yard work).
James assesses the damage. (10/22/07)
Because half of the branch extended into the yard of our next door neighbors, it turned out we couldn't do much without enlisting their help later.
The other big thing we're dealing with is smoke. Lots of it. The whole sky is filled with smoke, as you can see from the picture I snapped during my morning commute to work. The smoke didn't let up the entire day, nor will it for several days to come.
The sun barely visible through the smoke. (10/22/07)
On top of all that, our swimming pool is absolutely filthy from all the leaves and dirt in the air. And the backyard is a total mess. Of course our problems are infinitesimal compared to the people who have been evacuated from their homes, or worse, lost their homes altogether.
Smoke billows about a mile from where I work. (10/22/07)
One last thing. I do want to give a shout-out to all the hardworking firefighters who have put themselves on the front lines in battling these intense fires. These guys rock, and we certainly appreciate their hard work.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
In Memoriam – “The Best Dog in the World”
Today I lost one of my best friends. Simon was put to rest this evening, peacefully, here at home. His spirit was willing, but his body could no longer keep up. This is the most painful decision I’ve ever had to make in my life. It was the right decision, just a cruelly hard one.
April 6, 2003
Simon was purchased from the Orange County Humane Society here in the city of Orange. This was back in 1992 when I was still married and living in Chino Hills, CA. We went to buy a dog because my wife really wanted one. I was ambivalent.
When you enter the dog shelter, there are rows of kennels, each housing a single dog. Most of the dogs there were fully grown. Some were very ill behaved and would be troublesome to adopt. While walking down the rows, viewing dog after dog, I saw Simon.
Phone cam pic from 2004.
He was young, estimated to be about a year old. He was sitting against the front gate of his kennel, looking up with his ears tucked back. He had a green collar on. None of the other dogs had collars. Ever since then, Simon has always owned a green collar.
His given name was “Yeller,” which I didn’t’ know until later. But he would always be Simon to me.
I had one of the attendants place Simon into the open dog run area so I could learn more about him. In what I would later learn was typical fashion, Simon ran about and sniffed everything. But he was also interactive with me. He was happy to see me, and glad I was there. I was sold. He was on death row. This was his last day to live.
May 12, 2006
On the way home, Simon sat in the passenger seat. He laid down and put his head on my lap and fell asleep. When we got home, I laid a towel out on the floor for him. He immediately knew it was for him, and he spread out on the towel. He was house broken already too.
He wasn’t broken of all his bad habits. I can’t count how many sprinkler heads he chewed up in the back yard. He also scratched and chewed through the side garage door. He had a hard time adjusting to being free outside and alone during the day.
He saved my life when I was going through my divorce. His happiness and excitement to see me each time I returned home made me feel loved still. He slept on the bed at night with me so I wouldn’t feel alone. He was a comfort to me. I made it clear that Simon was coming with me after the divorce. He gave me the strength to say “You will NOT get Simon in this divorce. I will fight you on every step if you try it.”
April 6, 2003
After leaving Chino Hills and moving to Orange, he adapted very well to his new surroundings. He had to live with a nightmare of a back yard (I was a terrible gardener). I called him “Simon of the Jungle.” He hated to feel the tall grass touching his belly when he tried to pee. It was quite funny to watch.
When I started to date again, one of the main criteria was that he needed to like Simon, and Simon needed to like him. I was thrilled when the feelings were mutual between Simon and James. They loved playing tug-of-war with Simon’s toys.
Phone cam pic from 2004.
In 1997, I needed to attend a work training class in Issaquah, Washington, just outside of Seattle. It was a three week class so I had friends and family “Simon-sit.” Some people would go over in the morning and let him outside and play with him. Then, someone else would go over in the evenings for the same. James would come over on Wednesday and the weekends and take care of him while I was away.
Simon handled the situation beautifully … until the last day of the trip that is. My friend Judy was there that morning checking up on Simon. Apparently that morning he got fed up with my absence and started scratching the front door and carpeting at the door. He basically stripped all the threads from the carpeting in a long narrow strip. I didn’t blame him. I was surprised he didn’t cause more damage. I just thought it was telling that he did that on the day I was returning. He knew I was coming.
September 2, 2001
We purchased our house in Orange in 2001. The day we got the keys, we grabbed two sleeping bags, a lamp, a clock and camped out on the living room floor. Simon was right next to us. He loved the new house, but especially loved his new back yard.
Around that time, Simon started having issues with his joints and hips. The vet took x-rays and we were surprised to hear that Simon had broken a leg sometime before I adopted him (the vet surmised that Simon had been hit by a car as a puppy). The fracture healed incorrectly, with some overlap, instead of end-to-end like they should. This caused one of his legs to be shorter than the other. That led to Simon blowing out the ligament in his knee, which had to replaced surgically.
Later, his hearing started to fade. We started to have to use hand gestures or loud claps to get his attention. In fact, for the past two or three years, he’s had virtually 90% hearing loss.
April 3, 2006
Over time, his whole hind quarters got weak and he started to rely on his front legs. When he would lay down on his bed, he would sit his butt down first, then use his front legs to climb down into a laying position.
When he would get back up, he would sit up, then use his front legs to lift up his hind quarters. Basically the two front legs were doing all the work. I knew this wasn’t good, since his front legs can’t take all the weight.
These last few months were the hardest on him. He became more and more unstable on his legs. Yesterday morning he fell several times and couldn’t get up. He even fell into the pool, which sent me running to get him out.
Phone cam pic from 2004.
In the past couple of months, his appetite diminished. The vet said he had lost 11 pounds – one fifth of his body weight – since a year earlier. He became lethargic. His breathing became labored and he panted all the time. His back and hips became arthritic. We got him steroids to help with his weakness, and pain pills to relieve his pain. They extended his stay with us and we’re glad we did it. But they are no longer helping him, and we could no longer avoid the inevitable.
We couldn’t bear the idea of taking Simon to be put to sleep at the vet’s office. Simon hated it there, and we didn’t want his last minutes of life to be spent there. Nor could we imagine driving Simon there and driving home without him. We did some research and found a mobile veterinary service that offers home euthanasia. They put pets to sleep at home and then take them to be cremated. It costs more to do it that way, but to us it was well worth it for Simon to be at home.
May 12, 2006
So today was the day I put one of my best friends to sleep. It was graceful. It was peaceful. It was humane. And he was at home with us where he belonged.
April 6, 2003
Simon was purchased from the Orange County Humane Society here in the city of Orange. This was back in 1992 when I was still married and living in Chino Hills, CA. We went to buy a dog because my wife really wanted one. I was ambivalent.
When you enter the dog shelter, there are rows of kennels, each housing a single dog. Most of the dogs there were fully grown. Some were very ill behaved and would be troublesome to adopt. While walking down the rows, viewing dog after dog, I saw Simon.
Phone cam pic from 2004.
He was young, estimated to be about a year old. He was sitting against the front gate of his kennel, looking up with his ears tucked back. He had a green collar on. None of the other dogs had collars. Ever since then, Simon has always owned a green collar.
His given name was “Yeller,” which I didn’t’ know until later. But he would always be Simon to me.
I had one of the attendants place Simon into the open dog run area so I could learn more about him. In what I would later learn was typical fashion, Simon ran about and sniffed everything. But he was also interactive with me. He was happy to see me, and glad I was there. I was sold. He was on death row. This was his last day to live.
May 12, 2006
On the way home, Simon sat in the passenger seat. He laid down and put his head on my lap and fell asleep. When we got home, I laid a towel out on the floor for him. He immediately knew it was for him, and he spread out on the towel. He was house broken already too.
He wasn’t broken of all his bad habits. I can’t count how many sprinkler heads he chewed up in the back yard. He also scratched and chewed through the side garage door. He had a hard time adjusting to being free outside and alone during the day.
He saved my life when I was going through my divorce. His happiness and excitement to see me each time I returned home made me feel loved still. He slept on the bed at night with me so I wouldn’t feel alone. He was a comfort to me. I made it clear that Simon was coming with me after the divorce. He gave me the strength to say “You will NOT get Simon in this divorce. I will fight you on every step if you try it.”
April 6, 2003
After leaving Chino Hills and moving to Orange, he adapted very well to his new surroundings. He had to live with a nightmare of a back yard (I was a terrible gardener). I called him “Simon of the Jungle.” He hated to feel the tall grass touching his belly when he tried to pee. It was quite funny to watch.
When I started to date again, one of the main criteria was that he needed to like Simon, and Simon needed to like him. I was thrilled when the feelings were mutual between Simon and James. They loved playing tug-of-war with Simon’s toys.
Phone cam pic from 2004.
In 1997, I needed to attend a work training class in Issaquah, Washington, just outside of Seattle. It was a three week class so I had friends and family “Simon-sit.” Some people would go over in the morning and let him outside and play with him. Then, someone else would go over in the evenings for the same. James would come over on Wednesday and the weekends and take care of him while I was away.
Simon handled the situation beautifully … until the last day of the trip that is. My friend Judy was there that morning checking up on Simon. Apparently that morning he got fed up with my absence and started scratching the front door and carpeting at the door. He basically stripped all the threads from the carpeting in a long narrow strip. I didn’t blame him. I was surprised he didn’t cause more damage. I just thought it was telling that he did that on the day I was returning. He knew I was coming.
September 2, 2001
We purchased our house in Orange in 2001. The day we got the keys, we grabbed two sleeping bags, a lamp, a clock and camped out on the living room floor. Simon was right next to us. He loved the new house, but especially loved his new back yard.
Around that time, Simon started having issues with his joints and hips. The vet took x-rays and we were surprised to hear that Simon had broken a leg sometime before I adopted him (the vet surmised that Simon had been hit by a car as a puppy). The fracture healed incorrectly, with some overlap, instead of end-to-end like they should. This caused one of his legs to be shorter than the other. That led to Simon blowing out the ligament in his knee, which had to replaced surgically.
Later, his hearing started to fade. We started to have to use hand gestures or loud claps to get his attention. In fact, for the past two or three years, he’s had virtually 90% hearing loss.
April 3, 2006
Over time, his whole hind quarters got weak and he started to rely on his front legs. When he would lay down on his bed, he would sit his butt down first, then use his front legs to climb down into a laying position.
When he would get back up, he would sit up, then use his front legs to lift up his hind quarters. Basically the two front legs were doing all the work. I knew this wasn’t good, since his front legs can’t take all the weight.
These last few months were the hardest on him. He became more and more unstable on his legs. Yesterday morning he fell several times and couldn’t get up. He even fell into the pool, which sent me running to get him out.
Phone cam pic from 2004.
In the past couple of months, his appetite diminished. The vet said he had lost 11 pounds – one fifth of his body weight – since a year earlier. He became lethargic. His breathing became labored and he panted all the time. His back and hips became arthritic. We got him steroids to help with his weakness, and pain pills to relieve his pain. They extended his stay with us and we’re glad we did it. But they are no longer helping him, and we could no longer avoid the inevitable.
We couldn’t bear the idea of taking Simon to be put to sleep at the vet’s office. Simon hated it there, and we didn’t want his last minutes of life to be spent there. Nor could we imagine driving Simon there and driving home without him. We did some research and found a mobile veterinary service that offers home euthanasia. They put pets to sleep at home and then take them to be cremated. It costs more to do it that way, but to us it was well worth it for Simon to be at home.
May 12, 2006
So today was the day I put one of my best friends to sleep. It was graceful. It was peaceful. It was humane. And he was at home with us where he belonged.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)