frogponder

ET phone Rome

2009-11-10T19:21:00.000-08:00

>>VATICAN CITY – E.T. phone Rome. Four hundred years after it locked up Galileo for challenging the view that the Earth was the center of the universe, the Vatican has called in experts to study the possibility of extraterrestrial alien life and its implication for the Catholic Church.<<

Full story here.

God said, "Meh."

2009-11-10T10:29:00.000-08:00

Ref 71 went down to defeat much to the Religious Right's distress and same sex couples now get more rights in Washington state.

It seems God did not think the Referendum was such a good idea.

>>>From my viewpoint, the outcome would have been difficult under the best of circumstances. But our loss was made certain by three failures on our part: 1. We failed in our message. 2. We failed in our methods. 3. We failed in our money. Furthermore, I still have to wonder if God was in the effort.<<<

Whole article here.

Tonight featured on Larry King on CNN!!

2009-11-10T09:04:00.000-08:00

The headline on CNN - tune into tonight's Larry King - the Execution of the DC Sniper! Why don't we just toss him into a ring full of lions and film it. Does CNN have theme music for this news event? The sniper is an evil man, probably a sick man, has forfeited his right to freedom and will have to answer to Somebody, Somewhere, for his crimes but we shouldn't be efficiently and methodically killing him. And we certainly shouldn't be selling commercial space to celebrate it on TV.

getting the shot

2009-11-10T08:12:00.001-08:00

Since our whole family is high risk (asthma, age of youngest, collapsed lungs) we have access to the swine flu shot this week. Today Gorilla Boy is driving 2.5 hours home from college to get the shot. Daughter had it yesterday. Eldest is in Seattle and I'm not sure he can get it over there or will take the time to track one down. I'm going to see if we can reserve one for him when he comes home for Thanksgiving since he is coming home Tuesday. Interestingly we think The Engineer already had it. Word in the medical community is that the regular flu isn't here yet so if you are sick you've got the swine variety. There is only a 24 window you can test for it. Twenty days later his lungs are still not back to working order - he's on rescue inhalers twice a day instead of four times a day - the rest of the symptoms are gone. He clocks along just fine on his reduced lung activity (years of untreated asthma because there were no decent drugs back then). Are we having fun yet?

turkey list

2009-11-09T10:28:00.001-08:00

My usual November lists are being made.
Which relatives are coming (so far 5).
What needs to be done to get ready (FINISH OUR ROOM REMODEL).
Trying not to buy every single food item in the three city environs but Gorilla
Boy will be here...
Getting ready for the big state rivalry college football game - we are a house divided
between the two schools as far as alums and our nephew coaches for one of
the teams. This is serious business!

TLo interview with Gordana

2009-11-07T11:27:00.000-08:00

TLo's interview with Project Runway's Gordana here.
And Heidi doesn't come out smelling of roses.
Disappointed in her this season.

Glad he's in Iraq

2009-11-06T06:31:00.000-08:00

One of my BFFs' son is stationed out of Fort Hood, Texas and is deployed in Iraq right now. For the third time. Last night she said, 'I never thought I'd be thankful that he's in Iraq at the moment.' Bestest thoughts to the soldiers and families and civilians of Fort Hood.

Mad Scientist Thursday

2009-11-04T20:20:00.000-08:00

They are holding a competition for folks who are trying to build a device that can climb up a cable into space. Is this not so cool? One of the winning teams is from Seattle. Article here.

Ref 71, as of this morning

2009-11-03T21:45:00.000-08:00

From this morning's paper
>>With about 50 percent of the expected vote counted, Referendum 71 was leading 51.1 percent to 48.9 percent.<<

Tabitha is back!

2009-11-03T13:05:00.000-08:00

Tabitha's Salon Takeover is back on Bravo tonight!

New Book

2009-11-03T07:43:00.000-08:00

Our state education office has published a book on how to reach and teach children of trauma. I had a student crawl under the desk once overwhelmed with stress. I'm reading the book now and I can only read half a chapter a day before I get mad and angry. How does someone take a baby and abuse them such that they end up a quivering mass of terror, anger and sadness? Being abused literally rewires the brain. How do we stop this cycle?

Gorilla Boy picture

2009-11-02T07:17:00.000-08:00

Gorilla Boy took this picture of the farmlands of Eastern WA. The family farm is in this area.

Fall Back Sunday

2009-11-01T06:16:00.001-08:00

South of us - the Blue Mountains. This is really close to where one of the family farms used to be. My uncle used to let me liberate eggs from fierce mama hens. Remember to turn back your clocks!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2009-10-31T03:20:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year

2009-10-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

Top Chef

2009-10-29T07:48:00.000-07:00

How mean was it for the Magical Elves to put up that survey about Robin last night?
"Are you as over of Robin as the other chefs are?"
Worthy of schoolyard bullying.

The Haunted Garden

2009-10-27T20:53:00.001-07:00

Since our days of working guillotines and life sized grave stones and coffins - we downsized and now have a haunted graveyard in the front flower bed. Gorilla Boy took this picture.

stormy days

2009-10-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

here in the desert.

Feral Houses

2009-10-26T19:55:00.000-07:00

We made the mistake of planting ivy by the front door and it was heck to get rid of. In the backyard it is busy digesting the garden shed.
More feral houses here.

New Top Chef show - pastry chefs!

2009-10-26T11:59:00.001-07:00

>>Bravo's "Top Chef" is finally getting its "Just Desserts."

Cabler has cooked up another spinoff of its popular "Top Chef" franchise, but this time focusing on the sweet stuff. Casting gets under way this week for "Top Chef: Just Desserts," which is set to air sometime in 2010.<<

Full story here.

There be pirates!

2009-10-26T08:34:00.000-07:00

Looking down river, towards two of the four bridges we have. Pirates! No, a Movie Star!
The Lady Washington starred in one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies as the HMS Interceptor.

Sunday Autumn

2009-10-25T17:50:00.000-07:00

Picture from our paper.

Halloween Saturday

2009-10-24T09:45:00.000-07:00

My SIL gave me the two farmer figures. I painted the dog (in memory of our beagles) and found the broom and hat.
The pumpkin has a neat story behind it.
A local artist carved her way into the craft market and made items to be reproduced by Midwest. Before she signed with them she used to sell originals. This pumpkin is an original carving. I also have a c ouple original Santas and a tree-top star. She is retired now and I saw one of her reproductions go for $75.

Squirrel Power!

2009-10-23T18:10:00.000-07:00

Picture from our paper.
Must be some winter coming!

Halloween Boxes

2009-10-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

Sending both boys a Halloween Box. Not seen - lots of Reeses peanut butter cups. Yum!