Walks...

Well, I would have written something about the torrential rain yesterday, but Wil Wheaton did it much better than I could...

moves by just like a paper boat

We didn't really venture out much yesterday as it was really pouring all day; more a day for watching that Inuyasha movie in the box we hadn't gotten around to yet, making frozen cookie dough cookies, and putting away the last of the ornaments we hadn't yet. However, Sunday afternoon Angus and I did walk out to the end of the pier in the drizzle, had a snack at Ruby's, and came back. We cheated a bit then, by driving half-way down and parking. We discovered a mural we hadn't seen before around the corner from Perq's, and discovered the antique shop in the old Helme/Worthy Buiding was still open, so we had to check that out as well. I pointed out a 40's-50's era tea set to Angus, if ever his dad needs an idea for gift-giving, ha-ha, and he asked me several times why someone would want to buy some very old Coke bottles - still with original Coke, which must be really stale by now - or another Coke bottle with its neck stretched and twisted, probably from a carnival. He seemed dubious that people would ever want to buy such things.

The day before we had walked all the way down there from home and back. Some very big surf was coming in and swells were breaking past the restrooms and bait shop, much further out than usual. I practiced shooting the surfers for a few minutes, slightly envying the woman with a much bigger telephoto lens; then Angus tapped me on the shoulder and pointed out the pigeons getting a drink from the faucet at the fish cleaning station. Large-lens lady started taking pictures of them too.

So it seems Angus is becoming my walking buddy; the other two will go as well, most of the time, but he's the one who most often bugs me about it, which is a good thing. He no longer holds my hand like he did when he was little, but often takes my elbow as we're walking. It could be he might decide soon that's not something middle school-age boys do (Gareth, almost two years younger decided that a couple of years ago already), but for now it's sweet. Maybe in twenty years or so, it'll be the other way around.

Walks...

Well, I would have written something about the torrential rain yesterday, but Wil Wheaton did it much better than I could...

moves by just like a paper boat

We didn't really venture out much yesterday as it was really pouring all day; more a day for watching that Inuyasha movie in the box we hadn't gotten around to yet, making frozen cookie dough cookies, and putting away the last of the ornaments we hadn't yet. However, Sunday afternoon Angus and I did walk out to the end of the pier in the drizzle, had a snack at Ruby's, and came back. We cheated a bit then, by driving half-way down and parking. We discovered a mural we hadn't seen before around the corner from Perq's, and discovered the antique shop in the old Helme/Worthy Buiding was still open, so we had to check that out as well. I pointed out a 40's-50's era tea set to Angus, if ever his dad needs an idea for gift-giving, ha-ha, and he asked me several times why someone would want to buy some very old Coke bottles - still with original Coke, which must be really stale by now - or another Coke bottle with its neck stretched and twisted, probably from a carnival. He seemed dubious that people would ever want to buy such things.

The day before we had walked all the way down there from home and back. Some very big surf was coming in and swells were breaking past the restrooms and bait shop, much further out than usual. I practiced shooting the surfers for a few minutes, slightly envying the woman with a much bigger telephoto lens; then Angus tapped me on the shoulder and pointed out the pigeons getting a drink from the faucet at the fish cleaning station. Large-lens lady started taking pictures of them too.

So it seems Angus is becoming my walking buddy; the other two will go as well, most of the time, but he's the one who most often bugs me about it, which is a good thing. He no longer holds my hand like he did when he was little, but often takes my elbow as we're walking. It could be he might decide soon that's not something middle school-age boys do (Gareth, almost two years younger decided that a couple of years ago already), but for now it's sweet. Maybe in twenty years or so, it'll be the other way around.

Voice Post

Transcription translation: I came back from lunch (in the breakroom) to it absolutely pouring outside. I was standing here watching the lakes form on the lawn outside my office window and I'm thinking "guess I'm not going for a walk after lunch today."

I think the gophers out there might be drowning. I would now add that the blue heron who occasionally comes by to hunt them might actually have to fish for them.

Voice Post

Transcription translation: I came back from lunch (in the breakroom) to it absolutely pouring outside. I was standing here watching the lakes form on the lawn outside my office window and I'm thinking "guess I'm not going for a walk after lunch today."

I think the gophers out there might be drowning. I would now add that the blue heron who occasionally comes by to hunt them might actually have to fish for them.

Random flotsam...

• From John, on seeing The Birds listed on the Channel Guide: "Birds, my ass. Where are all the kids with pellet guns?" (he grew up in quite a different neighborhood than I did).


• When I enter "Bread, 12 grain" in the food search at SparkPeople.com, how on earth does "Wendy's small frosty (12 oz.)" turn up in the list?


• Our minivan came with a bunch of rarely used whistles and bells (we weren't really looking for them, we just got a good deal on the vehicle). It shames me to say that I still need to get out the manual to figure out all the buttons on the dash panel; I just haven't taken the time to do it yet. One feature is that occasionally I'll get in the passenger seat and, a few miles down the road, think "Why is my butt getting so hot?" Then I'll look over and see John sitting there snickering under his breath, having turned the seat warmer up to full before I got in. I usually forget we have them.


• I think my brain is full and would like to empty something out, please. Even though we've been in this office almost 10 years, I cannot remember the zip code here,and have to look it up almost every time. I can still remember our old office's zip code quite easily, though.

Random flotsam...

• From John, on seeing The Birds listed on the Channel Guide: "Birds, my ass. Where are all the kids with pellet guns?" (he grew up in quite a different neighborhood than I did).


• When I enter "Bread, 12 grain" in the food search at SparkPeople.com, how on earth does "Wendy's small frosty (12 oz.)" turn up in the list?


• Our minivan came with a bunch of rarely used whistles and bells (we weren't really looking for them, we just got a good deal on the vehicle). It shames me to say that I still need to get out the manual to figure out all the buttons on the dash panel; I just haven't taken the time to do it yet. One feature is that occasionally I'll get in the passenger seat and, a few miles down the road, think "Why is my butt getting so hot?" Then I'll look over and see John sitting there snickering under his breath, having turned the seat warmer up to full before I got in. I usually forget we have them.


• I think my brain is full and would like to empty something out, please. Even though we've been in this office almost 10 years, I cannot remember the zip code here,and have to look it up almost every time. I can still remember our old office's zip code quite easily, though.