Sunday, April 4, 2010

Unexpected Easter Fun

I was in the garage this morning getting ready to go out to lunch with my wife and my father-in-law who had not yet arrived.  Crash - Crack - Boom!  I heard it happening but waited until it was quiet to look out.  A huge limb had broken off the big Silver Maple in the back yard and became stuck on another branch - barely.

First of all I had mistakenly thought this was like any other Sunday* and stores would be open for shopping for a reception we have coming up soon and getting dirt at Ace to start filling in the garden.  With that plan scrapped we were going to go out to lunch then assemble another large shelf downstairs like the 3 others that we have.

Back to the story:  About 5 minutes after it happened, FIL arrived.  I sent them to lunch anyway, not much they could do here, and I tried to figure out what to do.  My neighbor, Jane, was home and offered to go get her sister's pruning saw.  That turned out to be a huge help.  I managed to prune as many of the little branches off as possible to lighten it.  While I was out front piling up sticks another neighbor, Bea, said hello.  I asked her if she had any rope, since I nor Jane had any.  She came down a few minutes later with some clothesline that I thought should work. 

More pruning and more cleanup so I wouldn't trip then I climbed a ladder and tied it to the branch as high as I could reach.  That higher leverage made dislodging it very easy.  Boom!  Perfect, it fell between the garage and house missing everything.  It didn't even take down the (unused) phone line, but it did bounce off it pretty dramatically.  I should have taken the pics before I picked up all the branches to show the full effect, but first things first.  Posting this was on my mind - because I grabbed the camera, but there was work to be done.


Shortly after, a small thunderstorm passed through so these pics of it fully cleaned up - except for the large piece to be cut up and removed later - are from inside the porch.  Other neighbors have a chain saw so hopfully all will be gone soon.  I really like being a part of a neighborhood.




*The previous post I had scheduled earlier last week because I figured I would forget it was Easter.

Happy Easter

I'm not one for religious holidays (but I enjoyed the paid half day off Friday).  Here's my contribution to Easter.  After all, muppet bunnies are always a good thing, right?  Happy Sunday!

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Die Antwoord - Enter the Ninja

Many thanks to Joanne Casey for this.  I first heard the song a few months ago when a podcast I listen to used it as the closing song.  It's haunting chorus kept me going back to play it again and again.  The last couple days this has come back to haunt me as I have been going back to see the video again and again.  Anything I pay that much attention to I have to pass on to you here, so here it is:  (Warning - Adult Language)



Strangely fascinating, huh?  Here's the only other 'official' video of them that I found:

Thursday, April 1, 2010

First Cookout of the Spring


Last night our friends Bridget and Zubin came over to help us with the garden and to grill some food. The helping part didn't take long at all so there was much time to talk, eat, and enjoy what was the nicest day of the year so far - until today, anyway. My wife thinks this picture is good, she said it looks like Zubin is in trouble! I like the background, too. You can see the plants coming in nicely. We even have a first bloom! Over Bridget's left shoulder there is a small white flowering plant. We have no idea what it is, we didn't see it last year. In the middle of the pic are irises. Last year there was a large clump of yellow ones on the left corner by the drainpipe. I chopped that up and traded with a nice lady, Donna, from work. This year should be Yellow, Pink, and Purple all mixed up in there.

Thank you for your help and a fun night, B&Z! We need to come up with more excuses to get together like that!

Salt of the...Air?


Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Buzz Gets A Lift

Before (Friday)                                                                                      After (Monday)

Buzz Burbank took one for the team and got a facelift last Friday.  Dr. Bruce Freedman (plasurg.com) was the first sponsor of The Mike O'Meara Show podcast.  They had him on the show a few weeks ago and arranged for Buzz to get a facelift for the show.  He is the oldest and was almost eager to have it done.  The videos were posted yesterday for all to enjoy!  Part 1 is actually not too hard to watch, the bright light bleaches out most of the gore.  Part 2 is a little more graphic.

He is awake and chatty throughout, yet very drugged.  A little over 7 minutes into the first vid he discusses the same study that the Man Flu article I posted Sunday was based on.   Buzz, always the ladies man...


You can see part 2 here.  Visit TMOS homepage here to listen to Monday's 'Big Reveal!'

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Happy Sunday!

I've had a full weekend, see it over at Scoakat's Garden blog!

Coming up: Planting, (re)moving other plants, cleaning, fixing, buying, storing, and, I can't forget, - party planning! 

Happy Springtime!

Man Flu Is No Myth


"Men's ability to turn a sniffle into flu and a headache into a migraine has long been a source of irritation to wives and girlfriends.

But the new research suggests that they are not faking it and that they suffer diseases more seriously and for longer."

 I'm posting this because half the time when I'm sick I don't think my wife believes me.
via Linkswarm

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Earth Hour/Human Achievement Hour





Earth Hour or Human Achievement Hour?  Lights on or lights off?  All very well meaning, I'm sure.  It seems like harmless fun to me.  It lets some people feel like they have done something and even feel like part of a greater community for the common good.  There's nothing wrong with that.  I don't care what these people are thinking as long as they continue thinking...

Thanks for the reminder, Uncle Bill.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Checking in...

Hello, just checking in.  I haven't been posting much because I have been doing some overtime lately.  Also, this week is my turn for the 'difficult' project at work.  My patience is frayed, my back is sore, and my feet are sorer.  Saturday I plan on building the garden so soon there will be more news here.  Other than that, all is well.  I hope you are enjoying the weather warming!