I totally love this concept. Three different bloggers, each employed in different public service jobs, write one part of a story. Each write the same story, just from their perspective as a cop, an ambulance driver, or an ER nurse.
This is the beginning of the first set of stories. It's about a tragic drunk driving accident in a small town.
This is the beginning of the second set of stories. Same idea, some changes in the lineup of writers, different situation.
Really brings home the jobs these folks do for us. Give credit where credit is due, sez I.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Signs of the Apocalypse
I will add to this entry as I find items that fit in this category.
Here's the first...Saw this in the vending machine recently:
9/30/08 update
Found another sign. They're everywhere....
So far, all in the food category. Stay tuned!
4/3/08
Ah, found another, but not food related. Instead it's the disturbing concept of child care provided by casinos. While you gamble away the family fortune, your child will get the best of care and entertainment. Least they could do, I suppose.
Here's the first...Saw this in the vending machine recently:
9/30/08 update
Found another sign. They're everywhere....
So far, all in the food category. Stay tuned!
4/3/08
Ah, found another, but not food related. Instead it's the disturbing concept of child care provided by casinos. While you gamble away the family fortune, your child will get the best of care and entertainment. Least they could do, I suppose.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Creative Curse Manifestation
I'm convinced we're cursed. Every time we go camping, it's always OUR neighbors in the campground who came to party. I've checked, now nearly every camping trip, by taking a stroll through the campground. Quiet everywhere - you can hear the night birds and bugs, the wind in the trees, the snores of the child....except in our own campsite, because of the neighbors.
Usually, this curse manifests as a few couples playing music on the boombox, or just getting drunk and cutting loose. It's annoying, but ultimately forgettable.
This past weekend, on the other hand, was a REAL DOOZY. We arrived Friday evening and had a lovely night and morning. Did some touristing around the the campground as we'd never camped there before. It's WAY more high end than we're used to. Air-conditioned visitor's center, gift shop, museum AND grocery store. A-freaking-mazing. Took the easy path around the flat bits just to get a taste of the place.
We might have done more but for Don's injuries and sore foot, the nearly 100 degree heat, and our late start. Instead, we headed back to the campsite for lunch and did art projects in the shade. WAY fun. That afternoon, a large group of East Indians arrive and laboriously set up their tents and site, then take off. Later that evening, the fun begins.
Apparently, due their late arrival and the park's first-come first-served site reservation policy, their party is spread out across the campground in several sites. They decide to converge on the site next to ours. Over the next couple of hours, their group grows from about a dozen to over 30 people, eating drinking and carrying on. About mid-way through this, we leave to attend a special presentation at the campfire center on predatory birds - they have brought a kestrel, hawk and two owls!! Very cool.
I go looking for a ranger to complain to. No one is there, so we hope that they're out doing their rounds and have shut down the party while we're gone. No such luck. Even after we return, the cars keep arriving and parking on the access roads. I complain to them and they say they're going to shut down soon. Then, another car arrives. So, they're not shutting down anytime soon, the liars. The park's stated limit is two cars and eight people PER SITE. They are now at about 30-35 people and 5-6 cars. It's dark, so I can't be sure.
I'm ready to drive down to the park entrance to use the pay phone to call 911 to get a ranger out here, when, lo! and behold! - a ranger arrives. It appears that he's been called out to the park especially to respond to numerous complaints about their behavior. (Um, duh! Idiots.) He makes it clear that they're in serious violation of the camp rules and regulations and they need to shut down now. The guy whose site it is then has the nerve to attempt to negotiate with the ranger, which, of course, pretty much ticks him off. The ranger then says they're being cited, all the cars on the access road are being ticketed, and if he gets called again, they're being evicted. Whew!
The next day, the neighbors continually give us the evil eye. I'm guessing they think we're the ones who called out the ranger. Ironic that we may have been the only ones in the campground who DIDN'T.
On a side note, while we were walking around the day before, Gabe and I were looking for goodies to put in his collecting bag. Bits of lichen and moss, leaves, etc. The plan was to use them in various camping art projects. I was really hoping for some feathers! There are so many cantankerous blue jays out there I expected to find at least a couple of blue jay feathers. Well, not a one did we find.
However, the morning after the horrid neighbors debacle, I found one. I had been on that path several times as it ran between our site and the commode. Yet, Sunday morning, there it was. A bluejay feather. I figgered the powers that be decided that maybe they had gone too far on this particular manifestation of our camping curse and had decided to apologize by providing the feather we had wanted to find.
Usually, this curse manifests as a few couples playing music on the boombox, or just getting drunk and cutting loose. It's annoying, but ultimately forgettable.
This past weekend, on the other hand, was a REAL DOOZY. We arrived Friday evening and had a lovely night and morning. Did some touristing around the the campground as we'd never camped there before. It's WAY more high end than we're used to. Air-conditioned visitor's center, gift shop, museum AND grocery store. A-freaking-mazing. Took the easy path around the flat bits just to get a taste of the place.
We might have done more but for Don's injuries and sore foot, the nearly 100 degree heat, and our late start. Instead, we headed back to the campsite for lunch and did art projects in the shade. WAY fun. That afternoon, a large group of East Indians arrive and laboriously set up their tents and site, then take off. Later that evening, the fun begins.
Apparently, due their late arrival and the park's first-come first-served site reservation policy, their party is spread out across the campground in several sites. They decide to converge on the site next to ours. Over the next couple of hours, their group grows from about a dozen to over 30 people, eating drinking and carrying on. About mid-way through this, we leave to attend a special presentation at the campfire center on predatory birds - they have brought a kestrel, hawk and two owls!! Very cool.
I go looking for a ranger to complain to. No one is there, so we hope that they're out doing their rounds and have shut down the party while we're gone. No such luck. Even after we return, the cars keep arriving and parking on the access roads. I complain to them and they say they're going to shut down soon. Then, another car arrives. So, they're not shutting down anytime soon, the liars. The park's stated limit is two cars and eight people PER SITE. They are now at about 30-35 people and 5-6 cars. It's dark, so I can't be sure.
I'm ready to drive down to the park entrance to use the pay phone to call 911 to get a ranger out here, when, lo! and behold! - a ranger arrives. It appears that he's been called out to the park especially to respond to numerous complaints about their behavior. (Um, duh! Idiots.) He makes it clear that they're in serious violation of the camp rules and regulations and they need to shut down now. The guy whose site it is then has the nerve to attempt to negotiate with the ranger, which, of course, pretty much ticks him off. The ranger then says they're being cited, all the cars on the access road are being ticketed, and if he gets called again, they're being evicted. Whew!
The next day, the neighbors continually give us the evil eye. I'm guessing they think we're the ones who called out the ranger. Ironic that we may have been the only ones in the campground who DIDN'T.
On a side note, while we were walking around the day before, Gabe and I were looking for goodies to put in his collecting bag. Bits of lichen and moss, leaves, etc. The plan was to use them in various camping art projects. I was really hoping for some feathers! There are so many cantankerous blue jays out there I expected to find at least a couple of blue jay feathers. Well, not a one did we find.
However, the morning after the horrid neighbors debacle, I found one. I had been on that path several times as it ran between our site and the commode. Yet, Sunday morning, there it was. A bluejay feather. I figgered the powers that be decided that maybe they had gone too far on this particular manifestation of our camping curse and had decided to apologize by providing the feather we had wanted to find.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Say cheese!!
I was reminded recently of when Gabe first discovered the concept of posing for the camera. In October 2006, we'd gone for a train ride at Roaring Camp. As we reached the mid-point of the ride, the train came to a halt and we exited into a lovely redwood cathedral area. I remember trying to get him to pose for a picture inside the hollow base of a tree. Here's one of those pictures:
Then, he stopped to watch a family of children assembling for a group photo and wanted to join in. I got him to stop by promising he could watch. When they were ready, the photographer shouted the inevitable, "Say cheese!" Everyone dutifully mouthed the time-honored tradition in unison, which is what, I think, truly charmed my son.
He demanded to know what the heck was going on. After I explained the concept of saying "cheese" for the camera, he posed over, and over, and over, and over, and over...of course, saying "cheese" each and every time. Witness the grin:
Now, if I ask him to smile for the camera, he slaps on the cheesiest grin in creation and caps it with shouting through his teeth, "cheese!" He'll hold the pose until the camera has clearly done its business and then want to see himself on the preview screen. Imagine his total confusion on the rare days I whip out my old film Nikon.
Then, he stopped to watch a family of children assembling for a group photo and wanted to join in. I got him to stop by promising he could watch. When they were ready, the photographer shouted the inevitable, "Say cheese!" Everyone dutifully mouthed the time-honored tradition in unison, which is what, I think, truly charmed my son.
He demanded to know what the heck was going on. After I explained the concept of saying "cheese" for the camera, he posed over, and over, and over, and over, and over...of course, saying "cheese" each and every time. Witness the grin:
Now, if I ask him to smile for the camera, he slaps on the cheesiest grin in creation and caps it with shouting through his teeth, "cheese!" He'll hold the pose until the camera has clearly done its business and then want to see himself on the preview screen. Imagine his total confusion on the rare days I whip out my old film Nikon.
Monday, April 28, 2008
The Farm Visit
Saturday, we visited Hidden Villa to meet the baby animals. We saw lambs, a calf, piglets and pregnant goats (they were due to sproink that evening!). We also saw chickens, tadpoles and salamander eggs. I missed not getting to see any peeps - baby chickens are so adorable! But, we got to pet the lambs. That was pretty cool.
The day gave us an opportunity to record another Gabe-ism. The calf was far from the fence that we were able to look through. Don had to pick him up and put some effort into pointing out the calf for Gabe to figure out which hump was the calf out in the field. Later, the calf was up and about, but still far from the fence. So we pointed and exclaimed over the calf running about and asked Gabe if he could see it. "No," Gabe says, "I can't. My eyes are too short."
I'll have pictures up soon. My digital camera is now useless since a 2-penny part is no longer functioning property - the whole rest of the camera is fine! Grrrr..... So, I'm in the market. Until I get a replacement, I'm using my old film camera. Pictures come with a delay.
The day gave us an opportunity to record another Gabe-ism. The calf was far from the fence that we were able to look through. Don had to pick him up and put some effort into pointing out the calf for Gabe to figure out which hump was the calf out in the field. Later, the calf was up and about, but still far from the fence. So we pointed and exclaimed over the calf running about and asked Gabe if he could see it. "No," Gabe says, "I can't. My eyes are too short."
I'll have pictures up soon. My digital camera is now useless since a 2-penny part is no longer functioning property - the whole rest of the camera is fine! Grrrr..... So, I'm in the market. Until I get a replacement, I'm using my old film camera. Pictures come with a delay.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Here I Am!
Whew! It's sure been a while since I logged on!! I guess I don't have a good excuse as to why I put it off so long. (Sorry Mom!) I think nearly every day of something I could add about what's been going on lately. I just.... don't for some reason.
To sum up for now...
* Yesterday Gabe picked up these little half balls that match up to make a sphere. In each one, he stuck a little soft ball from our ball collection. He went around making sure everyone had one - including the cat - and announced we were having a tea party!! He took some blocks and pretended they were a sugar bowl and a creamer, and offered everyone cream and sugar. Then, he insisted we all take sips. He was a little put out that the cat wasn't really interested.
* Of late, he's taken to getting into our bed in the middle of the night, should he happen to wake up. He used to wake up and holler until one of us woke up and went to find out what was the matter. I've since told him that if he has trouble in the middle of the night, it's OK to get out of bed and come to Mommy or Daddy. So, now, if he has a nightmare or some weird noise wakes him up, he climbs into bed with us. So, sometimes I'll wake up to Gabe's face less than an inch from mine as he insistes on sharing my tiny pillow with me. I've also learned more about what he's like first thing in the morning. Sometimes, he takes after mom and wakes up S-L-O-W-L-Y, mostly lounging around and blinking. But, sometimes, he wakes up and is all the way on right away. Take the other morning, he went from sound asleep (drool and everything) to sitting straight up in bed and clearly announcing that he wanted eggs and toast for breakfast.
* We are successfully potty trained!! As of about a week ago, we are all done. Gabe wears underwear all day, every day, even for nap. He still wears a nighttime diaper, and we plan to do away with that in a few months. He is very proud of his "potty power"! I think the dumb video that coined the phrase "potty power" is actually quite instrumental in his success. I'm not sure we could have shown or told him any more clearly that this video did, and it had cute little songs for each important aspect, all of which he now knows by heart and sings whenever. Say, if you're in the market, here's the link:
Potty Power Video
* One thing I've been amazed with lately is Gabe and his buddies' vivid imaginative play. The tea party notwithstanding, I hear them become superheroes, cars, dinosaurs, and kitty cats. Their toys have begun to have distinct personalities. Gabe is more and more concerned that I like his best toy, the one he sleeps with, and makes me kiss it goodnight.
* It's a bit concerning that guns are so prevalent in our culture that, despite the fact that we don't allow Gabe to watch adult programming, and don't allow war toys in the house, he will still pick up a block and pretend to "boom" me with it. I think it's in cartoons and some of the older animated films. I'm not anti-gun, but I certainly don't ever want to teach my child that a gun is a toy, or common, or frivolous. It is an important tool that one treats carefully and with respect, and only after you reach a certain age. War is not a game, and guns are not toys. Well, anyway, it's just frustrating because he's going to learn what that stuff is eventually. I'd rather it be later than sooner, when he's more able to understand what serious stuff it is.
* We've achieved another milestone in Gabe's eating saga. We tell him he may not have applesauce (a dinner alternative), or get down from the table, or even tell us he doesn't like it... until he actually TRIES it. The first time I described the new rule, and what "try" means (you put it IN your mouth, and chew it, and decide if you like it - and not liking it is OK as long as you've tried it), he put some chicken in his mouth....and decided he liked it! And finished his dinner. Yay! So, now he's more willing to do the same. Sometimes, he doesn't like it. We show him we're OK with that and move on.
So....that's it for now. I'll be back soon!
To sum up for now...
* Yesterday Gabe picked up these little half balls that match up to make a sphere. In each one, he stuck a little soft ball from our ball collection. He went around making sure everyone had one - including the cat - and announced we were having a tea party!! He took some blocks and pretended they were a sugar bowl and a creamer, and offered everyone cream and sugar. Then, he insisted we all take sips. He was a little put out that the cat wasn't really interested.
* Of late, he's taken to getting into our bed in the middle of the night, should he happen to wake up. He used to wake up and holler until one of us woke up and went to find out what was the matter. I've since told him that if he has trouble in the middle of the night, it's OK to get out of bed and come to Mommy or Daddy. So, now, if he has a nightmare or some weird noise wakes him up, he climbs into bed with us. So, sometimes I'll wake up to Gabe's face less than an inch from mine as he insistes on sharing my tiny pillow with me. I've also learned more about what he's like first thing in the morning. Sometimes, he takes after mom and wakes up S-L-O-W-L-Y, mostly lounging around and blinking. But, sometimes, he wakes up and is all the way on right away. Take the other morning, he went from sound asleep (drool and everything) to sitting straight up in bed and clearly announcing that he wanted eggs and toast for breakfast.
* We are successfully potty trained!! As of about a week ago, we are all done. Gabe wears underwear all day, every day, even for nap. He still wears a nighttime diaper, and we plan to do away with that in a few months. He is very proud of his "potty power"! I think the dumb video that coined the phrase "potty power" is actually quite instrumental in his success. I'm not sure we could have shown or told him any more clearly that this video did, and it had cute little songs for each important aspect, all of which he now knows by heart and sings whenever. Say, if you're in the market, here's the link:
Potty Power Video
* One thing I've been amazed with lately is Gabe and his buddies' vivid imaginative play. The tea party notwithstanding, I hear them become superheroes, cars, dinosaurs, and kitty cats. Their toys have begun to have distinct personalities. Gabe is more and more concerned that I like his best toy, the one he sleeps with, and makes me kiss it goodnight.
* It's a bit concerning that guns are so prevalent in our culture that, despite the fact that we don't allow Gabe to watch adult programming, and don't allow war toys in the house, he will still pick up a block and pretend to "boom" me with it. I think it's in cartoons and some of the older animated films. I'm not anti-gun, but I certainly don't ever want to teach my child that a gun is a toy, or common, or frivolous. It is an important tool that one treats carefully and with respect, and only after you reach a certain age. War is not a game, and guns are not toys. Well, anyway, it's just frustrating because he's going to learn what that stuff is eventually. I'd rather it be later than sooner, when he's more able to understand what serious stuff it is.
* We've achieved another milestone in Gabe's eating saga. We tell him he may not have applesauce (a dinner alternative), or get down from the table, or even tell us he doesn't like it... until he actually TRIES it. The first time I described the new rule, and what "try" means (you put it IN your mouth, and chew it, and decide if you like it - and not liking it is OK as long as you've tried it), he put some chicken in his mouth....and decided he liked it! And finished his dinner. Yay! So, now he's more willing to do the same. Sometimes, he doesn't like it. We show him we're OK with that and move on.
So....that's it for now. I'll be back soon!
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