Wacky news

Cows are being kept inside 'bio-bubbles' so scientists can measure gas emissions.

Its a girl.

I did not know how close it was that Rich's wife was to having the baby till the text message saying, "Yukos water broke", sometime late night on the 26th. I think the baby girl was born sometime in early morning on the 27th. See below for pictures of the cute new born baby .

camera phone pix 1

camera phone pix 2

The Gamer's Bag

The Gamer's Bag "Custom dice bags for gamers, by gamers."

Ran across this web site and thought, 'this is nice'. But I have my dice taken care of at this time.

Wednesday, picture day.

For the final day of their trip, we took some pictures at Picture People at North Gate Mall. With the 1st setting we took a few shots with the whole group, one with just the kids and a few other combos. We then went to the Olive Garden to wait out as the pictures got developed. There were some good pictures, but the group shots did not turn out too good. We reshot the group shot to get a smile on everyone's face. This did take most of the day, but we did get some great pictures.
We headed back to my parents house to take it easy and talk. Dinner came around and we headed to Bings to grab a bite to eat. Everyone packed and loaded the car and headed to the airport to catch their midnight flight. When they were dropped off, the kids looked to be on their way to a restful trip back.

Safety Sign

This is a picture of a push cart that a child would be pushed
in with a bag in the rear for any purchase. As stated in the
above picture, "DO NOT PUT CHILD IN BAG".

Tuesday, the clear day at the Space Needle

Had to do a few do in the morning light, work lunch being one of them. Got to the house at 12:30 pm. We got a late start going to the Pacific Science Center and the Space Needle. We had a few hours to look around the Pacific Science Center . One of the place we ended up going was the Butterfly House (see pictures below). With the kids with their grandparents, me, Chad and Kate went to the Space Needle and had a great view of the clear sky all around (check out the available webcam). Next me and the kids went back to my parent's house, while the others had a appointment about a ring. Last but not least, we went out to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory and had cheesecake as a finisher.

so many choices

Next: Wednesday, picture day.

A clear view from the top . . .

North View

South View

West View
(click on the pics for larger view)

. . . of the Space Needle.

At the Pacific Science Center

The Kids testing their peddle power ...


... checking out the insects.
(click on the pictures for a bigger picture)

The day that is Monday. Play day.

We had Popover pancake today for our eary morning meal. We finished the 1st Lord of the Rings movie (you know, the longer recut version). Next, we went to the park, while the girl (my mom and Kate) were downstairs doing different hair dos and putting on some make-up (disclaimer: the is just a basic breakdown of what they did). At the park, the kids played with grandpa. Me and Chad got a chance to toss the Frisbee around. Dinner was had by most all (mmm, ham), mom was resting, getting off her feet. Me and the kids got a chance to watch some cartoons, while Chad and Kate took a little walk. When the kids went to bed, my parents were having a good chat with Chad and Kate (while I hung around watching some TV). The day is now at a end, rest is done by all for the next we do something else.

Next: The day of Tuesday, a day that is not Monday, but is almost Wednesday.

Picture from the park.

The ups and downs ...
... the old hands and feet in the sand trick ...
... the kids can not make up their minds, up or down.

(click on the pictures for a bigger picture)

Wacky news

A wealthy Croatian lawyer says he must be the ugliest man in the world after having 5,000 marriage proposals turned down.

Sunday, the day of shopping and a movie.

We went out for lunch together and had a good time taking this and that. I took both of the kids to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in downtown Bellevue. While Chad, Kate and my parents head off to the mall and a few other places (that I don't remember). After the movie me and the kids headed back to my place. While at my place, things were looks up on the internet and the Frisbee was tossed around. Mom and dad took the kids back to there place, while me, Chad and Kate headed over to Best Buy. Next we headed bake to my parents house to take easy for the rest of the day.

Next: Monday, the day the vacation continues

At the mall.

Chad and Kate grabing a bite to eat at the mall ...
... working on Elli's earrings

The Binder of picture posting.

With Shannon's trip back to Seattle on June 24th thru 26th, some pictures were taken with my cell phone (they can do that, don't you know). He has posted on his BLOG via flickr.

The day that I call Saturday.

This was a good day. I had picked up a signing frame for the big day and gave it to the couple. It was well received with hugs and kisses (from both of couple). Started out as a easy day, met for lunch in downtown Seattle. Went to a park that was near where we ate. Next, we headed over to Pike Place Market and looked around for awhile. We headed back to my parents house to recover and take it easy. Chad open the birthday present I have been holding for him, with a pleasant surprise to find out what it was. Along came dinner and then my drive home to make this report.

Next: Sunday, the day after Saturday

After Pike Place Market.

This is after going to Pike Place Market...
and this on the drive home.

At a park in downtown in Seattle.

...waterfall...
...path that goes next to the falls...

...getting a ride back to the car.

The one ring.

Just today, I say Kate's ring.

The kids and waiting for the food.

...having a talk...

...say "cheese"...
...you too, say "cheese"

Filming?

Was on the way to my parents and to see my brother and his crew. Was at a light where I snaped this picture with my camera phone. (To make this picture a little clearer, there is a camera mounted on the front on the car) Looks like they were filming some shots in the area. I also saw a standard tripoded camera and a transport truck that had a small tv set up. By the time the group headed out for some food, they were gone.

Some info about the Paintball DVD project

I burned a copy of disk 1 the other night and just got arond to check it out today. When I had copied it onto a DVD to work on it on the computer, I had recorded it on a MED setting. With that setting, the final out come was that it came out blockie and grainie. If you know the people, you can basicly tell who is who. But that is not good. Right at this time I am re-recoroding the eps on a higher frame rate (the SP setting, 2 hrs). It should come out a lot better, I hope.

Official Goblet of Fire Site Launched

Warner Bros. Pictures has launched the official Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie website, which includes a new Flash intro and an area (click Triwizard Tournament at the bottom right) where you can support your champions for the Tournament. Clicking on the four characters will give you profiles, support kits and downloads.In the fourth novel, Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup with Hermione, Ron, and the Weasleys. He wants to dream about Cho Chang, his crush (and maybe do more than dream). He wants to find out about the mysterious event that's supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn't happened for a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. Unfortunately for Harry Potter, he's not normal, even by wizarding standards. And in his case, different can be deadly.Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire hits theaters on November 18th.

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures, July 21, 2005

Wacky news text messages I have gotten.

NEW: A drunken man who fought with a bear in a zoo in Ukraine has been seriously injured.

A Ukranian man ended up in hospital after picking a drunken fight with a bear.

The winner of a German beauty contest has confessed she used to be a man.

The body of a Louisiana man strapped to a gurney fell from the back of a pickup truck onto a south Dallas, Texas highway.

A young Dutch actress's bid to drive to the South Pole on a tractor suffered a blow after police confiscated the vehicle.

The Smurfs Headed for the Big Screen

Found this little item @ ComingSoon.net:

Paramount Pictures has acquired film rights to cartoon characters The Smurfs and set up development of a 3-D CG feature with producer Jordan Kerner and Nickelodeon Movies, reports Variety.

Producers have conceived the project as a trilogy and are aiming to release the first film in 2008 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of The Smurfs.

Some names to think about . . .

This is from a e-mail from Chad (my little brother):

We haven't had problems coming up with boys' names. Ian Parker is the frontrunner at this point; just like Benjamin's middle name comes from Prof. X, Parker comes from Spiderman. But we haven't come across any good female superhero aliases that we like - any suggestions? As with Prof. X and Spiderman, we like heritage that reflects intelligence, cleverness and agiliity, rather than brute strength. I thought that Serra did that, considering the attributes of the card, and it happens that Kate likes the name Sara. Anyway, still kicking around names. Kate really wants a girl so it's important to come up with a good girl name option.

This is what I said:

Suggestions? I have a few. You have come to the right person.

Crystal (from the Fantastic Four, part of the Inhumans Royal Family)
Amora (aka Enchantress, a Avengers foe)
Wanda Maximoff (aka the Scarlet Witch from the Avengers)
Sersi (was in the Avengers)
Silver Sable (from Spider-Man)
Jessica Drew (aka Spider-Woman)

Also for a boy's middle name you could go with Magnus (like in Erik Magnus Lehnsherr, aka Magneto).

So you can have Prof. X and Magneto in the names.

What do you think? Any of name look good? Do they make you name list?

Any other suggestions out there?
(click the comments link below and leave a name)

Some additional film.

Got this e-mail from Will today:

A DVD of our paintball videos is an awesome idea. I don't know how large a project you want to make it, but still have 3 or 4 videos here somewhere.
If you are interested, I will try to find them and send them to you. I have watched them in a couple of years, but I believe one of them has the paintball commercial Luke and I made for class. Anyway, let me know if you want to see them. It's great to hear from you.

This project is coming along at a good pace. And it now looks like, now it with more complete with the additional film that Will has offered. (pictured is Will (left) and Chad (right) after a game at Predators Den)

Herbie!

When walking home from work the other day, saw this paint job on one of the VW Bugs. (posted the picture and basic text from my VZW cell phone and then updated online)