I’ve had the opportunity to take a few portraits the past couple of months…. here are a few of my favorites from these photo shoots.
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Brandon, Jennifer, Emily & Marie Pearce
From Sam Cottle‘s senior portrait shoot
And the lovely J’Neil Cottle
So some news from my garden….Â
A couple of cute squirrels have been visiting my back yard every day the past couple of weeks, gorging themselves on the excess bird seed that drops to the ground from my bird feeder.
I have a clear view of them from the desk where I sit all day and I have found them entertaining distraction.
Despite the plentiful seeds on the ground, Scamper, here, isn’t satisfied with “leftovers” so he cooks up a plan. You can see him here, plotting in the trees.
After several failed attempts, involving squirrel contortion and acrobats, many resulting in near-falls to the ground, he finally succeeds in accessing the storehouse.
Not quite so cute.
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So I moved the feeder to a branch further out, so he couldn’t reach. But he was persistent… and this is what I found him doing today. I laughed out loud when he lost his grip and fell to the ground (only about 4 1/2 feet), but find myself scolding him now every time he attempts this.Â
Naughty Squirrel
Time to get a new, squirrel proof bird feeder.
Loving:
Rachel Maddow. Normally I avoid cable news networks at all costs. But I caught a YouTube video of Rachel Maddow’s new show on MSNBC a couple of weeks ago and may just have to turn in every day to watch this Ph.D and Rhodes Scholar.
Unapologetically liberal, she is intelligent, witty, articulate and fair minded. She offers calm and intelligent discourse (based on facts). My liberal leaning friends will love her.
Anticipating:
Comdeian/Political Satirist Bill Maher takes on all the silliness of religions around the world in this comedy/documentary called Religulous. An advocate of “reason”, Maher is sure to be highly irreverent and offend millions of people. I can hardly wait. (Not for people to be offended, but to go LMAO in the theatre.)
Unsurprised:
I mean, come on.
Was ANYONE surprised by this?
Annoyed… and then pleased:
McCain wanted to postpone the planned Presidential debate Friday night so he could rush back to Washington and inject his vast economic experience into solving the current economic crisis (as if his de-regulation policies weren’t partially responsible for what’s happened…)
But Obama said, no way.
“With respect to the debates it is my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who in roughly 40 days will be responsible for this mess,” he said. “I think it is going to be part of the president’s job to deal with more than one thing at once. I don’t see why we can’t be constructive in helping with this problem.”
So what happens if Obama is the only one to show up?
Move over, Braeburn, there’s a new apple in town.Â
For several years, my favorite type of apple has been the Braeburn.  Sweet and tart, nice and crisp they’re wonderful when in season. And, living in the beautiful state of Washington, I get them fresh and crisp every year.  But they haven’t shown up in stores yet (harvest is a bit later than usual due to a colder than usual spring/early summer).
Last week I wanted/needed some apples, and I’ve learned to just ask the nearest grocery department employee “So, what apples are best right now.” And on this occasion, I was directed to an apple I’d never heard of before.Â
They were $3.98 a lb – twice as much as any of the other apples – but he swore they were worth it. And I’ve learned to trust these guys, after buying apples on my own that turned out to be a bit mushy. Blech. So I bought several and took them home.
Behold my new apple love…. The Honey Crisp.
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This sweet little guy has a crisp “to-die-for” texture. Nothing worse than a mushy apple. (Ok, there are worse things, but that’s beside the point). And from what I’ve experienced and read, no other apple matches its crispness.
I finished off my first round and just bought 6 more… still at $3.98 per lb. Worth every penny. Yum. I haven’t tried with caramel, but I bet they’d be delicious.
Have you ever tried a Honey Crisp? Whate did you think?  What are your favorite apples?
I recently made the dreaded trip over Snoqualmie Pass to visit my sister and family, and participate in Sam & J’Neil’s fantastic scavenger hunt.  I say dreaded, because I drove…. and it’s a long drive (4 hours)…. and I drive fast….  Â
In fact, here is a picture of the badge of the officer who gave me a ticket just outside Ellensburg.  Is 82 in s 70 mile an hour zone REALLY that fast? : ) Â
Every trip to Kennewick, which is on the southeast corner of Washington, is a study in contrasts.  Here’s what it looks like on my side of the state (taken at Snoqualmie Pass).Â
I call it “Eden”
And this is what it looks on Kristin’s side of the state.Â
I call it the “lone and dreary world.” Taken near the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. Need I say more?
Fortunately, once I arrive in Kennewick I get to enjoy the company of Kristin, Craig, Sam and J’Neil. The scavenger hunt was a ball – Kristin and I had a great time coming up with ideas for crazy things the kids needed to find or do, and then she put together an incredible (and organized, of course) adventure for the kids. I think she should package and sell it! Best scavenger hunt ever! I keep hoping she’ll start her blog and share this stuff she creates…Â
But in the meantime, here is a picture of J’Neil’s team meeting one of their “action” requirements….Â
                 
 Sam’s team won (I wish I had video to share of the eulogy he gave at the funeral for a dead bug) and found the final clue first, leading them to the biggest treasure chest where they divided the loot. The silly string was a big hit. But J’Neil’s team was pretty happy with their bounty as well. Needless to say, a good time was had by all. Don’t you wish Kristin was YOUR mom?
He’s hot.Â
He’s sexy.Â
He’s entertaining on the big screen.Â
Loving dad.Â
Generous humanitarian.
And now, another great reason to absolutely love Brad Pitt…
He just donated $100,000 to help fight the discriminatory ban against gay marriage in California, saying…
 “Because no one has the right to deny another their life, even though they disagree with it, because everyone has the right to live the life they so desire if it doesn’t harm another and because discrimination has no place in America, my vote will be for equality and against Proposition 8”
I love you, Brad.
Speaking of which – I’m so delighted that my favorite former brother-in-law and his long time partner just tied the knot last week in northern California.  When he wrote to tell me the happy news, he said “It actually turned out to be a bigger deal than I thought it would. We’ve felt so married for so long we really didn’t think it would be that big of deal. It was.”Â
Everyone should get the chance to be this happy – with all the legal protections that come with marriage. Â
Congratulations Paul and Craig! I’m SO HAPPY for you!
A request from Kristin…..Â
J’Neil has been asked to the Homecoming Dance. She is excited. She has her lovely dress and today we ordered the shoes and bought the necklace & tiara…. She is going to look fabulous.Â
However, since she’s pretty young (14), we’ve asked that the kids go as a “group” rather than it be a “date”. The problem is, most of their friends who have not been asked (or have not asked anyone) are feeling a little silly going with the “couples”.
We need some ideas of things the group can do before the prom that would be fun, and entice more of the kids to join them. And perhaps ideas of ways to make all the kids comfortable going to the prom.
The kids are all about 15. What fun things can the group do?
–ALSO–
I need Halloween Party ideas.
The kids are also wanting to have a Halloween Party, and I need ideas for 15 – 17 year olds. What fun activities with a Halloween theme will keep a group that age interested and engaged? The whole group, if they all came, would be about 6 girls and about 10 boys.
Things this group has done in the past, and had a great time with, are scavenger hunts and murder mysteries.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
This is supposed to be a day of remembrance. Remembrance of the attack, remembrance of the national unity which followed it.
Most important of all, remembrance of the dead.Â
But 9/11 has become a brand name…..
In the early 80s, Kristin and I were watching HBO and happened upon one of the most memorable films of our lives. It was a brief, animated short film which had won the 1982 Student Academy Award.Â
It was called “Guess Who’s For Dinner” and in it, a spinach monster attacks a child during dinner. It was hysterical and after 25 years is still a clear image in my head. Kristin and I have both spent hours over the years, searching for this in any form… if you stumble upon it, let us know!  The talented animator, Kathy Zielinski has gone on to career with Disney and animated the memorable character Ursula (the witch) in the Little Mermaid, in addition to others.
And then, of course, there were the midnight short film festivals at the Villa theatre where I saw some memorable, and not so memorable animated shorts. Who could forget…
Bambi vs. Godzilla?
I’ve been a fan of short films ever since. So I was delighted to find I can get the academy award nominated shorts for 2004 – 2007.  I got 2006 first (because that’s the one I noticed first) and watched them last night.  What a delightful evening.  Some were better than others, of course – but I enjoyed all of them but one.
I think my favorite live action short was  “éramos pocos†(spain).  Mom has left her slob of a husband and grown son, who are helpless without her. They liberate Gran from a nursing home to cook and clean for them. Fun, with a twist.
West Bank Story is a love story and rivalry between Israelis and Palestinians and their fast food joints. Made by students at USC, it actually was a musical – and won the Oscar. It was fun.
My favorite animated short was The Danish Poet” (Canada-Norway) – which did win the Academy Award. Simple line drawings and a sweet story. You can actually see this one on YouTube.
I’m looking forward to the other years’ collections!  Do you like short films? Have you seen any that were memorable or that you’d recommend?Â
Lot’s of articles and commentaries on the election this week. Here are my favorites:
Ability To Lead Armed Forces Pivotal In Election
by Ken Harbaugh
Republicans, Stop Calling Obama Elitist
by Bill Maher (smart-ass comedian, political commentator)
Palin and McCain’s Shotgun Marriage
by Frank Rich
Sarah Palin: George Bush in Lipstick?
by Nico Pitney
**Yes – that’s a morphed photo of George and Sarah…. pretty uncanny, don’t you think?
And my favorite….
Jon Stewart does what he does best
He hits Karl Rove, Bill O’Reilly, Dick Morris and more with damning evidence of their hypocrisy regarding Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin.