Sunday, June 29, 2014

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

lazysundayafternoon

Monday, June 23, 2014

This And Thats

It has come time again to drop all sorts of little nuggets about this or that going on in our life recently.
  • I've been overdue to update the garden site.  We've had a lot of rain recently and the plants have been growing well.  According to our rain gauge, we had about 8.5 inches in a 4 day stretch last week, and some pretty severe storms.  I got home one day and the street was blocked off just past our house due to downed branches and phone, cable and power lines.  There were similar or worse scenes all around the region.  I wanted to post about it but I don't want to show my neighbor's houses.  I can choose to post our own house, but even then I've blocked out the street numbers before.
  • Speaking of the garden - well, I started to - salad greens have been ready and we got some more from a friend so we have been eating a lot of salads lately.  Kate has been eating more than I since I tend to tire of them after a couple days.  Steaks on the grill tonight!
  • I'm taking a bit of time off this week and I really have nothing planned.  No projects, no nothing.  I'm starting to feel a bit guilty about being lazy, but I really need my batteries recharged.  I've been almost constantly training in one thing or another at work since last August and my brain is tired.  I have a U.D.O. concert dvd that I haven't watched yet - there, now I have plans tomorrow.
  • I got a laugh from this fact about Wisconsin, via a very interesting article at Huffington Post that my wife pointed out to me:  'With a population of 5,664,893, Wisconsin has only 57 fewer drinking places (3,043) than California (3,100), a state with a population of 39,969,200.'  And 'Wisconsin had nearly three times more bars than grocery stores.'  It is an interesting article that covers a lot of things we're known for here, and not just drinking.
  • We've had fun getting together with friends for fun and family for Father's Day recently.  We were going to have our spring party last weekend, but a few weeks ago, right before we started plans in earnest, we got a flier on our door for the 3rd annual street block party.  Just the same, the timing wasn't the best for us this year to throw a big shindig like we have almost every year since we moved here.  We have not gone up to the street's block party (held on the next block) yet, it seems like it is more of a families with kids thing.  Or maybe that's just an excuse.  I like to think we are friendly with most all our neighbors, but we are actually pretty private, too.
I've left this for a bit and come back after a wonderful grilled tenderloin steak dinner.  I really thought that I had more to say.  I'll probably think of a half dozen more things after I hit 'publish.'  Good thing I have a couple more days off...

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Latest Listening Pleasure 16 - Sebastian Bach

I didn't really like Skid Row, but I admit to liking selected songs, mostly years later. When it comes down to it, I liked the singer, the band not so much. Sebastian Bach has had arguably the better career since the split, yet he seems to think a reunion would make them millionaires again or something. I just know what I like, I like Sebastian Bach more than the band he was in, or even much of his solo stuff... Well, there is some real good stuff on his solo albums and he is a great metal frontman and gives it his all. I do see what all the detractors see, but I have respect Sebastian Bach.  Enough that he is now one of my LLPs!  In fact, this is probably the best lyric video that I have seen to date, off his latest release 'Give 'Em Hell.'


This next video, 'Temptation,' is actually the first single of the new album. It features Duff McKagan who also played on some of the album.


*I found this in my drafts from a few weeks ago so I must have been drinking when I wrote it.  In fact, I did post the first video recently, but now it's official - Sebastian Bach is a latest listening pleasure!  Enjoy!


Previous LLP Posts...
LLP 1 - Pain
LLP 2 - Nightwish
LLP 3 - Die Antwoord
LLP 4 - Pain part 2
LLP 5 - Andrew Bird
LLP 6 - Nightwish part 2
LLP 7 - Paramore
LLP 8 - Newsted
LLP 9 - U.D.O.
LLP 10 - Nightwish Imaginaerum Movie
LLP 11 - Kiss
LLP 12 - Rick Springfield
LLP 13 - Hyrax
LLP 14 - In This Moment
LLP 15 - Faster Pussycat

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

FYI: Fun Youtube Info

You can download a youtube video by adding ss between www. and youtube.  Example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b8It9_iV58

just add 'ss'

https://www.ssyoutube.com/watch?v=9b8It9_iV58

Just click to go on to the website, wait for it to load, then click download.  There's even different formats to choose from.  It really works and it's pretty fast, so if you have a need for your own copy of a video then have fun with it!

Monday, June 16, 2014

Power Naps

I saw this video recently and it made sense to me.  I've actually been doing this for a couple years now, I get a 35 minute lunch and I go straight to the car, set a timer for 30 minutes, turn the radio on really low and lay back with my hat over my eyes.  All year round, too, so there are some accommodations for weather.  It started when my back was aching as a chance to rest it during the day, now I needs me nap!


Not a whole lot going on right now.  There are some things I should take the time to write about so there may be a 'This and Thats' post soon.  The helicopters are done falling so I need to clean the gutters, and the squirrels have been leaving the new strawberry plants alone.  Oh, and after enjoying several weeks of temperatures moderate enough to leave the windows open we may have to start the air conditioner soon.  Maybe even tonight.  This week is to be warm and humid all week.  Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Cat in a Basket

20140612 007
Hamish, left, looking at Kate while Basil wants in on whatever's happening.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Have Gnome Will Travel

20140608 022The gnome has a new home!  His old area by the base of the lilac got a bit overgrown so now he is back along the fence among the hostas!  At least for now.

Check out recent pictures of the garden and some plants around the yard over here!*

*I'm too tired to post anything witty, look at our plants!

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Space Stream Follow-up

That last post is out of this world, isn't it?  Granted, the feed may be black when it is on the other side of the Earth than the sun, but wait just a little bit and it will be back to daylight - and some fascinating views!  This site, the ISS Tracker, can actually show you where the International Space Station is in real time, including it's path and the sun's horizons.  You can also sign up for email alerts for when you can actually view it where you live and with your naked eye over at NASA's Spot the Station website, which I also list in the right column.  I, myself, try to see it every reasonable hour it happens comes our way.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Space Stream

Live, from the ISS...

More info here.