tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8438970629219010902024-03-13T10:56:45.273-07:00A Word In EdgewiseJeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.comBlogger347125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-57767090681227878642019-03-03T21:52:00.000-08:002019-03-03T21:52:25.661-08:00I'm Gunning For YouIt's been quite some time since I wrote my last story. Thought it'd be fun to get the creative juices flowing again with something short.<br />
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I'm Gunning For You</div>
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From the darkened recess of his hiding spot, Joey spied his target. Completely unaware of the gruesome fate that awaited, the prey strolled casually by. Joey's pulse quickened for a moment as a warm rush of adrenaline surged through his body. Taking a long, slow breath then exhaling fully, the predator readied himself for the attack.<br />
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The time had come to settle a score and the loaded gun in his hand was now trained on the unsuspecting passer by. Without warning Joey sprang out from the shadows and shouted at the young man before him. As Michael, his lifelong friend, spun around, the two locked eyes. Michael knew his time had come and there was nothing he could do about it but accept his fate.<br />
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Joey extended his gun wielding hand, squeezed quick and deliberately and screamed wildly in a blood thirsty cry. His aim was true and seconds later as Michael recoiled, he found himself completely soaked. The H2O-189 water cannon Joey had purchased the day before proved to be exactly the weapon he'd hoped it would be.<br />
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As the two young boys laughed on this hot summer day, Michael vowed, "I'll get you Joey Castinetta. Mark my words!"Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-55305601879708515142019-02-28T16:34:00.002-08:002019-02-28T17:19:10.200-08:00Remembering Mom<div style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
On the 11th of February a year ago, my mom left this world. With cancer riddling nearly every vital organ in her body, she mercifully went from diagnosis to her passing very quickly. If you are one of the very lucky few to have never had this hideous disease affect you or a loved one, that previous statement may seem odd or even callous. Being grateful for a quick passing would seem rather strange at first thought, but for anyone who's endured the suffering of someone over a long period of time, they'll know "quick" is actually a blessing in disguise.</div>
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Sure I wanted more time with her. To hear her stories again. To tell her how much I loved her. To just sit and be with her. But all of those things would only have been self serving for me. Any pain she would have known could in no way have compensated for an extension of her life. </div>
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You see, my mom was the true definition of love and she was kind beyond words. She was fiercely protective of all of her kids, and that meant the three that she gave birth to as well as countless others that she considered her kids. Basically, if you were a friend of one of my brothers or myself, you were quickly adopted into the family. Didn't matter if you were older or younger. White, black or sky-blue pink with purple polka dots. Tall, short; Gay, straight; Rich, poor. None of those things mattered to her. She had an uncanny way of seeing beyond the labels to the person that was within. </div>
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My mom had as keen of a sense of humor as any comedian out there. Beyond the jokes or the snarky comebacks, she taught me that humor reallyiq, in its root form, the ability to laugh at myself first and then the world after. If we can accept the faults, quirks or idiosyncrasies (call them what you will) we each own and find levity in them, then the worlds problems that get placed on our shoulders aren't quite as burdensome to carry.</div>
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Even with that outlook, there were times when the weight seemed especially heavy. That's when she showed her sympathetic side. That might have meant a shoulder to cry on or just an ear to bend. Whatever it was, she was there to support and encourage. </div>
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She also knew love meant being tough when it was required. She certainly wasn't afraid to call me out when my common sense took a leave of absence. Being a parent myself, I know how incredibly difficult this can be and she was able to manage it beautifully. Kind of the velvet hammer effect. That extraordinary way of being able to say you're being a complete ass while still telling you she would never lose her love for you.</div>
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I think it's safe to say there's a hole in my heart without her. It has mended some over this past year and I suppose it will continue to do as the subsequent years march on, but I know it will never fully close. That's okay too. I don't walk around in a mope all day, not by a far stretch, but that little bit of hurt that remains dormant for the most part is actually healthy I think. It keeps me connected to all my memories of her. I suppose there can't be a loss of love without some level of hurt to go with it.</div>
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We talked in person or by phone nearly daily. We weren't necessarily solving the worlds problems with every conversation though. More often than not it was just checking in with one another. Admittedly I would roll my eyes every once in a while when I saw the phone ring. Not always, but sometimes. "We just talked yesterday" I would think on those occasions. A year later I would give anything to have another one of those conversations with her. In a way, I recently did. Let me explain.</div>
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About two or three days before the anniversary of her passing, I had one of the most vivid dreams I've ever had. She and I talked for a long time. I could see her sitting right in front of me and I could actually hear her voice as clear as day. The weird part is, I couldn't tell you what we talked about; Just that we talked. I found that strange as I reflected on our conversation. Maybe I was just so elated to be "talking" with her again, I lost track of exactly what was said. Hard to say. It was a dream, and those don't always make perfect sense.</div>
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I woke up with my head held high and in the best of spirits. The world seemed a whole lot brighter and lighter for the entire day. Even if the conversation we had was only a dream of mine, it meant much more to me than I can adequately explain. I hadn't had a dream of her before that night, nor have I since, but maybe some day I will again. Maybe it was a gift from above. A little, "She's alright up here" for me to hold on to. I don't know. What I do know is I was and am tremendously grateful for experiencing it.</div>
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If your parents are still with you, be patient, be kind, reach out to them. Some day the opportunities to do so will no longer exist.</div>
Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-81315241728648400972019-02-26T16:39:00.003-08:002019-02-26T16:54:24.238-08:00Back In the Saddle Again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3lQAxmEOptQ/XHXfue_NXtI/AAAAAAAACWw/LfqFPDz1FCYNVS8t7rgznQXk7k7u6vE7gCLcBGAs/s1600/im%2Bback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="322" height="156" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3lQAxmEOptQ/XHXfue_NXtI/AAAAAAAACWw/LfqFPDz1FCYNVS8t7rgznQXk7k7u6vE7gCLcBGAs/s320/im%2Bback.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Well... It's been six years and twenty-three days since I last posted anything here. Like most of the people that used to write on blogs, we all seemed to abandon them in favor of the more simplistic Facebook, Twitter or Instagram route. I too followed the crowd to Facebook and am still there, but lately I've been yearning for something with more substance. Something like a... well, like the good ol' blog.<br />
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A couple of months ago I read back through all the old posts I'd written, and remembered how much enjoyment this little corner of the blogosphere gave me. I met some really great people here and have maintained those friendships to this day. Sadly, some people I've completely lost touch with. Makes me wonder what became of them. Busy lives carrying us in a multitude of different directions I suppose. Still, I wonder.<br />
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Beyond the friendships, one of the things I really missed was writing stories. I love telling a tale. I want to get back into that groove again. It helps to keep the synapsis firing in the old brain bucket and when you're an old fart like me, that's a good thing. Don't have any specific story that is dying to be told, but I'm sure as the fingers start caressing the keyboard again, the ideas will flow.<br />
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Noticed I'm going to have to update my sidebar. Only one person on there still writes with any regularity. That's my buddy Ron. Love that guy! Going to have to add my brother Gene on there too. He also decided to fire up his old blog and give it a go again. Now all I have to do is figure out how to do that again. LOL<br />
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If you happen to stumble on this post, leave me a comment and let me know you're alive. If you know of any weekly or monthly writing challenges, point me in their direction please.<br />
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That's pretty much it for this reintroduction. Interested to see where this next chapter takes me.<br />
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<br />Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-56734185600079609222013-02-03T06:54:00.001-08:002019-02-24T13:12:21.045-08:00Superbros<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Looking forward to seeing my favorite team back at the big dance.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QqrOlOIL52E/UQ55vFZ5MoI/AAAAAAAACMI/J5JxumXA34o/s1600/superbros.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QqrOlOIL52E/UQ55vFZ5MoI/AAAAAAAACMI/J5JxumXA34o/s640/superbros.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Go 49ers !</span></b></div>
Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-77151516560013913862013-01-20T21:42:00.001-08:002013-01-20T21:42:21.929-08:00Say What?Now I should probably warn any of you who are about to read this post that it contains highly shocking information. Reading further could lead to exclamations such as,"No Shit!" or "I don't flippin' believe it!" to be said aloud by you.<br />
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It is recommended that you find a chair and sit down before proceeding.<br />
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Remember, you have been warned....<br />
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I went to the mail box Saturday afternoon and harvested my daily crop of bills. Among them this go round was my electric bill. (insert a Yeepie Skippy here) Granted it's not generally too bad this time of year because the air conditioner certainly isn't running the totals up like in the summertime, but still, it's rarely a good thing any time of the year.<br />
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Well imagine my surprise when I read the following:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2vGS-ScXCUc/UPzSFUuqdpI/AAAAAAAACL4/XmRGiqwHmpc/s1600/IMG_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2vGS-ScXCUc/UPzSFUuqdpI/AAAAAAAACL4/XmRGiqwHmpc/s640/IMG_0030.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yep you read that correctly. PRICE DECREASE<br />
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I about had a heart attack when those words passed over my lips! <i>Price Decrease</i>... kind of has a nice ring to it doesn't it?<br />
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Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Clause!!!Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-85479167461429418912013-01-17T21:57:00.000-08:002013-01-17T21:58:11.580-08:00WindmillBack in mid December we were working on a home that was situated in the middle of a wind farm. I stepped outside toward the end of the day to load up equipment and found a pretty amazing sky show. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xZ3qtpAtMJ4/UPdorJc0XSI/AAAAAAAACLo/Ny6c-3NXejU/s1600/12132012+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xZ3qtpAtMJ4/UPdorJc0XSI/AAAAAAAACLo/Ny6c-3NXejU/s640/12132012+009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I don't know if you've ever had the opportunity to get a close up view of these babies, but let me tell you, they are HUGE!!<br />
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Looking at them from a distance really doesn't give a real perspective on the shear size that they are. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dyLXnXRCSBo/UPdobxDDpuI/AAAAAAAACLg/DuMIdHr-wHU/s1600/12132012+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dyLXnXRCSBo/UPdobxDDpuI/AAAAAAAACLg/DuMIdHr-wHU/s640/12132012+006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you look really close you'll see a small red dot at the top/back of the motor. It's actually a light that blinks on and off.<br />
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When we finished working that evening it was completely dark outside and when I say dark, I mean it was pitch black! We were a little over a mile from the nearest paved road. The wild part was driving back while being surrounded by these three armed giants (500+) while they all blinked on and off again in a eerie red glow. It was quite surreal. <br />
<br />Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-73509697970547041202013-01-02T15:50:00.002-08:002013-01-02T15:50:46.887-08:00You Stained My Floor!Just before taking a much needed break from before Christmas through today, we completed a flooring project out at the coast. I was (as was the homeowner) very pleased with the result, so I thought I'd share a couple of photos with you.<br />
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The owners had recently built a brand new vacation home overlooking the Ocean and as one of the final things to complete, hired another contractor to do a stain treatment on the concrete basement floor. Unfortunately things did not work out as they had hoped. As you'll see in the before and after photos below, what they attempted to do was kind of cheesy looking at best and considering it's at least a $800k home, cheesy was not going to fly.<br />
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That's when we got the call. Mrs L. wanted something that would be complimentary to rest of the home which was done with impeccable taste and done by very skilled craftsmen. She also wanted the finished floor to look like large tiles instead of just concrete. After talking with Mrs L. and surveying the botched floor, we proposed a solution.<br />
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We would grind off both layers of the single-color, paint/stain that had been applied and apply a multicolored, water based stain treatment to the slab. <br />
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When the slab was poured they had saw cuts done at 30 inch intervals. This would help in the "Tile like" effect. A great idea, but no one had ever proposed filling in these saw cuts (about 1/8 inch wide). Instead they were left open. Not terribly attractive and also a great place for dirt, sand and other debris to get hung up in. For this we proposed filling them in with a polymer modified cement done in very dark gray and then grinding off the excess flush with the rest of the slab. The result would give the effect of having grout in between the faux tile.<br />
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Oh, one more wrinkle, as an added bonus, all the moldings and doors had already been installed and painted. This meant we would have to be extra cautious when grinding so we didn't damage any of the finished woodwork. <br />
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So off to the coast we went with a plan to transform the not so pretty floor into a bit of art.<br />
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We ground, we cleaned, we masked, we filled, we ground some more, cleaned some more and cleaned one more time just for good measure. WHEW!<br />
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After applying the stain and letting it dry thoroughly, we applied two coats of a clear water based epoxy. This gave it a nice semi-gloss finish and will protect the surface for many years to come.<br />
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Here's the result:<br />
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(From left to right - 1 when we arrived, 2 after grinding, 3 our finished floor)</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">(This one's from the top of the stairs looking down. Cool keyhole!)</span></div>
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Have I mentioned I love what I do for a living?<br />
<br />Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-79545947050224743082012-12-31T18:35:00.000-08:002012-12-31T18:35:23.614-08:00A Year in ReviewAs another years comes to close it's time to reflect on the happenings over the past 365.<br />
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Breathed in, Breathed out<br />
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Well... guess that about sums it up.<br />
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See you next year.Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-10440632288429534932012-12-06T19:42:00.002-08:002012-12-06T20:42:47.368-08:00A Pinch of This and a Dash of ThatHave you ever been at the point in preparing dinners that everything seems boring? Lisa and I have experienced that of late. We've both cooked professionally (albeit years ago) and have made countless family meals so, one might assume we'd have an endless supply of recipes. Not necessarily so<br />
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Don't get me wrong. We've got a good supply of family favorites, but after twenty plus years even those lose their edge sometimes. We feel like a wagon on the Oregon Trail... We're in a rut!<br />
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Fortunately my mom just gave me a stack of old cookbooks. Not the ones sold on the shelves of Barnes and Noble and the like. No, these are from church congregations, families doing school fundraisers and even one from a sports teams wives. They range from the mid 60's through the 90's.<br />
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I've found some fun things so far. They're a collection of family favorites from all over the country. Mostly simple recipes; not over complicated and not pretentious. Some of the things that I find really interesting are the ingredients. Ones from the sixties have MSG listed. Ha! Good luck finding that in today's cookbooks. Other books have regional ingredients listed. Items that I would never find around here.<br />
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I think I've clipped out about a half dozen recipes that I'll try and I'm sure I'll find a few more, but my favorite find so far is the one I found in a church book. The "Chef's" name is Lynda Walp and this is what she submitted:<br />
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ELEPHANT STEW</div>
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Cut 1 elephant into small cubes; this should take two months. Add enough brown gravy to cover. Cook over kerosene fire about 4 weeks at 460 degrees. This will serve 3800 people. If more are expected, 2 rabbits may be added, but do this only if necessary, as most people do not like to find hare in their stew.<br />
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I like Lynda Walp!<br />
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<br />Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-26286128402134165972012-12-01T19:58:00.001-08:002012-12-01T19:58:29.669-08:00Moderation Is the KeyWhen I decided to fire up the ole' blog again I poked and prodded through a few of Blogger's features. While looking at the comments section I noticed a spike in a few posts I'd previously put up. Wondering why, I investigated further. Turns out that the spammers were having a field day in my absence. All sorts of gibberish and pointless garbage had been posted as comments.<br />
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What is it with these people?<br />
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I decided that putting comment moderation in place would allow me to filter through their BS and delete it before it made it into "print". It worked, but at the same it meant everyone else's legitimate comments would have to be approved by me before they were visible. This I didn't like.<br />
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Alas, I discovered that you can set moderation to "Sometimes". In this setting you can apply a number of days that allow all new comments to appear while ones that are 1, 7, 14 days (or whatever # you choose) to be moderated first.<br />
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I like this option. New comments can be displayed right away while anything older than 7 days (what I set it at) have to be approved first. Hopefully this will slow down the spammers. I'd like to say stop, but I know better.<br />
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Alrighty then, I now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging.Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-38375472388530687522012-11-29T21:26:00.000-08:002012-11-30T06:47:24.723-08:00Meatloaf - It's What's for Dinner<div style="text-align: left;">
Working on getting my writing game back on. Here's another short bit of fiction inspired by this week's prompt at <a href="http://sundayscribblings.blogspot.com/">Sunday Scribblings</a>.</div>
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<b>"Meatloaf - It's What's for dinner"</b></div>
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Craig hit the front door at 6:45 pm. It had been a long day; Heck, it had been a long week.<br />
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"Honey, I'm home!" he called out as he sat in the foyer removing his brown patent leather shoes.<br />
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"Oh good," his bride replied, "You're just in time. Dinner is coming out of the oven as we speak. It'll be on the table in just a few minutes."<br />
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At the sound of Craig's voice his beloved and faithful companion Rex came bounding in from the other room. Mostly Golden Retriever, but with a speck of Yellow Lab mixed in, Rex was as gentle and lovable as they come.<br />
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"Come on boy, let's go have dinner." his master said while giving him a scratch behind the ears followed by a light pat on his fluffy, auburn colored head.<br />
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Craig's wife Carol rounded the corner to the dining room at the same time the "<i>Boy and his dog</i>" (as she lovingly referred to them) did.<br />
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A large bowl of creamy-white mashed potatoes and a smaller bowl of green peas with a dollop of butter in the center already sat on the table as Carol delivered the main dish of her famous meatloaf.<br />
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She and her husband of twenty years sat and ate and shared stories of what had transpired during their respective days. Nothing exceptionally noteworthy, but that didn't matter. They were together and they were talking. Even after all these years they still enjoyed each others company.<br />
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After finishing a plate of dinner and when the conversation began to dwindle a bit, Carol got up and said, "How about another piece of meatloaf?"<br />
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"Sounds good honey."<br />
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Slicing off another portion and sliding it onto Craig's plate, Carol told him to enjoy and that she'd take care of clearing the table while he finished.<br />
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With the sound of dishes clanking in the kitchen sink, Craig felt it was safe and summoned over Rex, who had up to this point been quietly lying in the corner of the dining room. With a tail wagging, a pink tongue hanging out and his head cocked to the side just a bit, Rex was immediately at Craig's side waiting for his master's next word.<br />
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Discretely Craig took his remaining piece of meatloaf and passed it to his four legged friend. One quick gulp and all evidence was gone. At nothing more than a whisper, Craig leaned over and told his friend, "Between you and me... I've never liked her meatloaf."Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-31130178562477038762012-11-25T15:09:00.004-08:002012-11-25T15:25:42.888-08:00Flood<div style="text-align: center;">
A short bit of fiction inspired by the writing prompt this week at <a href="http://sundayscribblings.blogspot.com/">Sunday Scribblings</a>.</div>
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"Flood" </div>
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Where was it? Frantically, Belinda searched every nook and cranny hoping in near desperation that she would find it. Through mountains of chaos the ordered and obvious were no more. They had been, in just a few short hours, replaced with upheaval and disarray.<br />
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With tears steadily streaming down her smudged face, Belinda moved from room to room sorting through the disheveled pieces of her once well kept home. The mud and debris significantly impeded her progress, but did very little to slow her resolve to find her prized possession. It was here and she was determined that no amount of destruction would keep her from finding it. <br />
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Belinda could hardly believe she was now standing in her living room. Two feet to the right lay what was left of her washing machine while another couple of feet away was a mix of broken figurines from the curio and silverware from the kitchen cabinets. Nothing was where it should be. Still she looked.<br />
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Daylight now faded and the shadows grew long across her battered home. Belinda felt both emotionally and physically exhausted.<br />
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Flashes of red and blue light peeked their way through the front windows and Belinda knew it was the local Sheriff making his way up the street painfully having to order the residents of Carlyle street to vacate their properties.<br />
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She only had a few more moments before the inevitable knock on the door would come. One last scan across what used to be the dining room revealed something in the corner that caught her eye. "<i>Could it be?</i>" she thought. Hearing the rap of knuckles on the front door, Belinda quickly dashed to the other side of the room. She grasped at the dark green album that held her greatest treasures; the photographs of her late husband and both of her grown children. It was a little stained on the outside cover from the water, but the pages inside were in nearly perfect condition.<br />
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The Sheriff called out, "Hello, anyone in here?"<br />
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Belinda replied, "I'm in here."<br />
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"I hate to have to do this, but I'm afraid you're going to have to leave immediately." the officer pleaded. "It's just not safe to be in here any longer."<br />
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Through tears and a wee bit of a smile, Belinda replied, "That's ok, I've got all I need with me now."Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-42510004584244600292012-11-22T09:28:00.000-08:002012-11-22T21:01:12.586-08:00The Meaning of ThanksgivingI know Thanksgiving is an American holiday so this doesn't necessarily apply to everyone, but what happened to the holiday? It seems like every year the commercialism creep is more and more prevalent in the days leading up to, and the days directly proceeding Thanksgiving. This isn't going to be an all out rant about the retailers, just a reflection on what's really important to me.<br />
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For my family and I, Thanksgiving has always been about having a little down time and spending the day together. As a kid I remember hopping in the car and heading over to my aunt's house about an hour or so away. There would be aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and of course mom & dad and my brothers. Most of the men would be huddled around the TV set watching football games while many of the ladies were futzing about in the kitchen whipping up all sorts of yummy food. We kids would be running about playing games and being shushed by the TV watchers and shooed by the cooks.<br />
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This would be our yearly routine until we eventually moved too far away to make it feasible to make the annual trip. My aunt's house was replaced with mom's house. Relatives weren't replaced as much as they were exchanged with local versions, and the children running around don't include me anymore, but are now my own kids.<br />
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The constant are the traditions which still remain; family, food and football.<br />
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With Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday and even Wireless Wednesday (new for 2012) being thrust upon us, I wonder how much the landscape of Thanksgiving has changed for many. Like I said before, this isn't a rant because I know some people enjoy getting up at O-dark-thirty and hitting the stores with family and friends. It's become a tradition to them just as much as he three F's are to me. I just don't get it personally. To me it seems more like this is feeding the machine that is commercialism, but perhaps my viewpoint is skewed and it's really their way of celebrating the day.<br />
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To each their own right?<br />
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So whether you're a stay at home with family type or you're a supper shopper type, or any other type, my wish for you is that your day brings you joy and fulfillment. Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-16747376773822062042012-11-20T19:16:00.002-08:002012-11-20T19:16:42.879-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And to think, all these years I was under the impression that chickens came from eggs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nasty!</span></div>
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Well then, it's been nearly a year since my last post. Wowzer! Thought I'd come back with a bang. Kind of been wanting to put some things on the ole' blog for a while now. No promises for any sort of rhythm , but at least I'm out of the gate.</div>
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It'll be interesting to see if anyone still has me in their reader. Looking forward to reconnecting with youz guys.</div>
Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-85603846788692078972011-11-23T19:47:00.001-08:002011-11-23T20:24:58.571-08:00Happy ThanksgivingWow it's been a nutty, busy couple of weeks. I suppose that could be the first thing to put on my list of things to be thankful for. Not the nutty part, but certainly the busy part.<br />
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I think when I total out the numbers for November it's going to go in the books as the best month for revenue we've had in the history of the business. That's pretty incredible considering the time of year.<br />
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Next up... Family. Everyone in the immediate family is healthy. Can I get an Amen!<br />
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We'll be going over to my mom's for a traditional feast of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, etc. The only bummer is that my oldest brother Gene and his family won't be coming up.<br />
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I'm also thankful that I live in a country where I'm free to express my belief in God. This seems like an easy one to take for granted until I turn on the evening news and see the oppression others are forced to endure.<br />
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Not an exhaustive list by any means. Just a few things I'm thankful for right now.<br />
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How about you? What are you thinking of this Thanksgiving?Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-86359142245819615792011-11-03T20:55:00.000-07:002011-11-03T20:57:46.830-07:00It Was A Spooktacular NightI know it's November 3rd an Halloween is already in the books for this year, but I had to work until midnight the past couple of nights, so this post is a little late getting up. Still I wanted to share a few photos of our haunted house. We had soooooo much fun putting this one together.<br />
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Walking up to the garage.</div>
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We nicknamed him "Scary Guy"<br />
No one could figure out if he was real or fake </div>
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It's all fun and games until someone loses a head!</div>
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Some ghosts and bats to greet the guests </div>
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Anthony and I made the coffin and then put a corpse with glowing eyes and rats munching on him inside. Add a few candles and some dead flowers and you've got a fine looking dead guy.</div>
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A few heads and masks</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The deranged doctor's lab</span></div>
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Much better at night</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Mad Scientist's Lab</span></div>
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Lisa ready to do a few experiments in the lab</div>
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We also had a fog machine going and some spooky music playing which really added to the effect. It was a ton of work getting everything put together, but well worth it listing to all the kids (and some adults too) when they went through. <br />
<br />Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-28737604619530088422011-10-29T19:15:00.000-07:002011-10-29T19:16:38.668-07:00Haloween Eve EveIt's getting close to Halloween and the sunshine outside today gave us the perfect opportunity to get some ooky spooky decorations up. Most of the front yard is done. Black plastic trash bags cut into strips make a great backdrop to the front porch. When the wind blows they flutter and give a eerie feeling when it's dark outside.<br />
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Anthony, Lisa and I made a guillotine complete with a "blood" soaked blade. The severed head will be placed in the basket on Monday. Ah yes, a warm cozy, Hallmark, sort of family moment. <br />
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We also made a witch that appears to have flown directly into the column. That should get a few chuckles.<br />
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Tomorrow we will turn the garage into a haunted house. Mad science lab, Coffin with a demented zombie, Spiders with webs, snakes... yep, it's gonna be scary fun. On Monday we'll open the garage door and let the little monsters from the neighborhood come in and see our monsters. Lots of treats to hand out too.Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-47721130224918092402011-10-26T22:16:00.000-07:002011-10-26T22:17:59.863-07:00One Picture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's time for the final installment of The Ten Day Challenge.</div>
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Today we are asked to post one picture of our self.</div>
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With Halloween just around the corner I thought what better shot to share with you than one of me<br />
all dressed up and ready to P A R T Y !</div>
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I was somewhere between 19-21 years old. Dang... look how skinny I was, emphasis on the word "was".</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Rn8ijS_LyI/TqjliS5KkCI/AAAAAAAACG8/sgye9hIb1J4/s1600/Scan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Rn8ijS_LyI/TqjliS5KkCI/AAAAAAAACG8/sgye9hIb1J4/s400/Scan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-14423376208467238992011-10-25T21:27:00.000-07:002011-10-25T21:34:17.906-07:00Two SongsToday's prompt for The Ten Day Challenge is two songs. Seriously... just two?<br />
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Music is such an interesting medium. It can bring people together under a common interest and it can also cause great divides due to personal taste and style preferences. I like a pretty wide range of music types and I don't think it would be right to say there are any that I hate.<br />
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I don't care much for Opera, but even so, hearing it live is nothing short of amazing. I was weaned on Rock and Roll, so that would have to be my favorite, but I also like Country. Go Figure. I thought I didn't like Rap until I heard some that had a positive message. So much different than the gangster variety that gets the attention. I've found some New Age stuff that's pretty cool. and I remember listening to a East Indian CD that I really liked. Jazz, Blues, the list goes on.<br />
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So how does one select two songs from all that's available to choose from? I think the answer is simply this. You choose two and know full well that they would likely be different selections on any given day, week, month or year.<br />
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So the two that I pick for this moment in time are:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHPgk-tCaks">Three Wooden Crosses</a>" by Randy Travis </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M687f5m6QZw">Love To Love</a>" by UFO</span></div>
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<i>Clicking on the titles will allow you to listen to them via You Tube</i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TQJCj4ZB9RM/TqeNqIXGNVI/AAAAAAAACG0/v-J013kM3KU/s1600/10+dys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TQJCj4ZB9RM/TqeNqIXGNVI/AAAAAAAACG0/v-J013kM3KU/s200/10+dys.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-30811914087580113642011-10-23T10:48:00.000-07:002011-10-23T19:08:03.876-07:00My BackyardFrom this week's writing prompt at <a href="http://sundayscribblings.blogspot.com/">Sunday Scribblings</a>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"My Backyard"</span></div>
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The distinctive smell of flat stale beer and the omnipresent haze from a number of lit cigarettes both past and present, announced to the senses that I had walked into Callahan's.<br />
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An Irish Pub by designation was this neighborhood watering hole, which sadly, served as a home away from home to its usual cast of characters. Many of them were already assembled as often was the case by this time of the afternoon.<br />
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Mickey, a Goliath sized man with hands resembling that of a full sized Kodiak bear sat next to his long time friend Bruce Tate. They were jawing back and forth about something of little consequence as was generally their M.O. Politics I think it was today, but it could have easily been about the raw deal their foreman was giving them, or how much those god-damned A Rabs, as they so eloquently called them, were getting for a barrel of crude oil. It mattered not, because the subject of their debates may have changed from one day to the next, but their disdain for nearly everything outside of a couple of whiskeys was the one constant in their pathetic lives.<br />
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In the back corner, the only spot in the place with decent lighting was Frank. He was on his fourth of fifth pint by this point and his dart throwing skills were already showing the ill effects of his buzz. He'd only be another beer or two away from challenging anyone and everyone who'd pony-up a ten spot for a game. It was downright comical watching him drop his money repeatedly each time he'd get a taker. Still he tried and still he failed miserably. <br />
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Vivian was sitting at the end of the dark mahogany bar intently eying the door in anticipation of the next businessman to walk in. Her advancing age and less than attractive lifestyle had deposited deep lines upon her face, much like a well traveled road in need of significant repair. Trying desperately to compensate for her shortcomings for what many would consider beauty, she typically wore bright colored, tight fitting tops with a low cut opening in front. Showing off her ample size on top she found, helped draw men in much the same way sugar beckons ants to come closer and have a taste. It seemed to be an effective ploy, because the upholstered bar stool next to her never stayed empty for any length of time. Another mark in her favor was the dim lighting of the old pub which helped her cause immensely.<br />
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Then their was Shamus, the owner and barkeep of this padded sewer. He was dressed in his usual attire of black slacks with a permanent crease from their no-iron polyester chemistry and a white button down the front shirt with sleeves rolled up just past the wrist. He also wore a hunter green apron that hung just below his stomach and a matching bow tie. His once auburn colored hair gave way to more of a gray hue these days, and his voice once strong and boisterous was now subdued and scratchy from years of inhaling the toxic smoke of his patrons.<br />
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I ordered a bourbon and coke and retreated to a table along the south wall. There was a cribbage board sitting on the table that had four matchsticks placed in the holes replacing the colored pegs that had long since disappeared. From their positions I could tell the last game had not ended well for one of the players. The one using matches that had the burnt tips had been skunked, most certainly giving bragging rights to his partner.<br />
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I moved the wooden game board and deck of old stained playing cards to the adjacent table and opted for the newspaper that was there instead. The front page headline immediately caught my eye.<br />
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"Gruesome discovery leaves police questioning why?" was stretched out in bold black letters. I felt a warm rush as I dove into the words that followed. The police had discovered the remains of at least four bodies so far and were continuing their search, it explained. My fingers tugged playfully with the curly brown hairs adorning my chin and a content smile washed over my face.<br />
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"The police may have questions," I thought, "but I have all the answers."<br />
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About this same time Shamus reached up to the TV set that was perched above the end of the bar from a large metal arm. Pressing the inset button on the panel, he turned up the volume to hear the newscaster announcing some sort of breaking news. <br />
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It was channel eight and Kohr Daniels, the regular evening anchor chimed in, "We interrupt your regular programming to bring you this special report. Police have descended on a local home and at this moment are searching for yet more victims following yesterday's terrible discovery of four bodies in rural Brunswick County. We take you now to Crystal Chong who is live at the scene."<br />
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The steel faced anchor with the square jaw continued with, "We're getting reports that the police have found at least three more bodies. Is that right Crystal?"<br />
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Video coverage from their news helicopter showed an all too familiar location as the smooth skinned Asian reporter provided the commentary.<br />
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"That's right Kohr." Chong said with a voice that was strong, yet conveyed a feeling of concern. <br />
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"As you can see, local police as well as a host of other agencies have converged on this once quiet suburban neighborhood."<br />
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"It's an unbelievable scene here." she continued, "Right now they are using ground penetrating radar and are looking for voids in the subterranean surface in hopes of finding what they think will be quite a number of previously missing people." <br />
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"What kind of sick bastard does something like that?" Shamus uttered, just loud enough for everyone to hear.<br />
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Quietly I got up, folded the paper and tucked it under my arm as I started for the door. I knew I needed to get going before they showed a picture of the owner of the home they were at. I knew this because they were at this very moment, digging in my backyard.<br />
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<br />Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-61691457444952154792011-10-22T15:54:00.000-07:002011-10-22T16:40:42.211-07:00Three FilmsWe're coming into the homestretch on The Ten Day Challenge, with today's topic of Three Films.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RTlGBrQmfvo/TqNUW-PiZXI/AAAAAAAACGk/YbMzTzWhZNg/s1600/10+dys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RTlGBrQmfvo/TqNUW-PiZXI/AAAAAAAACGk/YbMzTzWhZNg/s200/10+dys.jpg" width="200" /></a>It's interesting to me that at the beginning part of this challenge it seemed difficult to come up with enough answers for the prompt and now it's the exact opposite. Only selecting three films seems an impossible challenge. Do you pick the ones you love? How about the ones you despise? There are ones that make you cry and ones that make you laugh out loud. <i>(That's lol for all you Facebook users and texters out there)</i>. Yes, there is a movie for every emotion and life situation you can think of and to limit the choices to three... that's tough.<br />
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Oh well, it is what it is.<br />
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Here are three movies that came to mind as I was contemplating this post. I'm quite sure if I were to do this again tomorrow, the list would be completely different though.<br />
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1. From 1988 "Big" stars Tom Hanks as a young boy who is magically transformed into a 30 year old adult thanks to the coin-op fortune telling machine, "Zoltar Speaks". It's a pretty cute story overall, but what makes this movie memorable to me is because it's what my wife and I watched on our first date. (Insert a great big mushy "Awwwww" here)<br />
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2. Going backwards a few years is the 1936 musical, "The Great Ziegfeld". Although I'm not real big on musicals generally, I do love movies from this era. Well before the special effects, digital sound editing and unbelievably huge budgets of today, there were these gems where quality acting and beautiful stage scenes were the key. The dance number in which this giant rotating spiral staircase was a pivotal piece of is a magnificent work of art. While watching it, what makes it even more impressive is knowing that the entire scene (several minutes long with an immense amount of choreography) was done with a single shot. No second takes, not multiple cameras, no splice editing, just one continuous, amazing shot! <br />
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3. In 1975 Jack Nicholson led a cast of crazies in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" I've seen this film several times and I still enjoy it as much as I did the first time. I can not imagine anyone else in the role of McMurphy other than Nicholson. In my opinion he was the perfect fit. And don't forget about the despicable Nurse Ratchet played by Louise Fletcher. Didn't you just want to strangle her to death? Oh ya, McMurphy just about does. The electric shock therapy scenes put a chill down my spine every time too. <br />
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<br />Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-29803043256191259962011-10-21T22:05:00.000-07:002011-10-22T10:30:03.000-07:00Four BooksTime to return to The Ten Day Challange. Today's topic: Four Books<br />
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At first I started thinking about which four novels I'd list. A tough challenge for sure having to narrow that list to only four. Then I started thinking about another set of books that have held my attention for quite some time. A little bit of a spin on the challenge I suppose.<br />
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The following four books from my library would unlikely be designated as light reading by anyone. They do however, represent approximately 4,200 combined pages of some of the most detailed information you'll find anywhere on the subject of French/American cooking. I truly love these books and refer back to them often when I'm working in the kitchen.<br />
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<b>1. "Larousse Gastronomique" </b><br />
This is not your typical cookbook at all. In fact, there isn't a single recipe that I recall seeing in between its two covers. Instead, this is an encyclopedia for all things food. Not exactly what you'd consider a "page turner", but as a reference tool, it's unparalleled. <br />
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<b>2. "The New Professional Chef"</b><br />
Produced by the Cullinary Institute of America, This in depth book should be owned by anyone that's serious about the culinary arts. The recipes are geared for restaurant sized portions, but in most cases with the proper calculations, can be scaled down for home use. <br />
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<b>3. "The Professional Pastry Chef"</b><br />
Written by Bo Friberg, this book is nothing short of amazing. I was fortunate enough, as was my wife, to have trained with Bo while at the Culinary Institute of America and let me tell you, working side by side with this guy was incredible. This is one of those cook books that you don't just simply pick up and decide, "Hmmm, I think I'll make this recipe today." without first having a firm grasp on the world of baking and pastry. For those willing to invest the time, this book is an invaluable resource.<br />
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<b>4. "The Way to Cook"</b><br />
Written by none other than Julia Child. This book is the smallest of the bunch, but at approximately 500 pages, it is still quite beefy. (pun intended). If you want an all purpose cookbook that will have you whipping up dishes like a pro, buy this book. It has excellent tips and very clear recipes to follow. <br />
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<br />Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-87519291301321732682011-10-20T16:56:00.000-07:002011-10-20T16:59:57.362-07:00A New Word<span style="font-size: large;">We temporarily interrupt the Ten Day Challenge to bring you this new word just created by yours truly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Pastorized</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(verb)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1. To be preached to fervently.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As in:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I went to a Southern Baptist church on Sunday and the preacher shouted hell, fire and brimstone from the pulpit for an hour straight. I got pastorized.</span>Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-26927731141350069302011-10-19T18:30:00.000-07:002011-10-19T18:30:13.505-07:00Five Foods<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Food... ah, glorious food. Like water, but with more flavor, it's something we can't live without. A trip to the bathroom scales tells me I could probably live with a little less though!<br />
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Be that as it may, today's question from the Ten Day Challenge is "Five Foods", so here are some of my favorites and one that is clearly not.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6NEnX9RRlTg/Tp9aZSp37vI/AAAAAAAACEU/uAdff_M5fQ0/s1600/prib.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6NEnX9RRlTg/Tp9aZSp37vI/AAAAAAAACEU/uAdff_M5fQ0/s1600/prib.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from Simplyrecipes.com</td></tr>
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1. Prime Rib. Looking at that picture almost makes me feel sorry for vegetarians... well, almost. One of the great things about prime rib is that it's usually accompanied by mashed potatoes and gravy. That combo could easily make my list too, but for now I'll just leave it here where it belongs, right next to that salt & pepper crusted, fat laiden, aromatic P R I M E R I B !!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iN2BJ64MkfY/Tp9eY_bOuSI/AAAAAAAACEc/TjecpYeEHhc/s1600/sushi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iN2BJ64MkfY/Tp9eY_bOuSI/AAAAAAAACEc/TjecpYeEHhc/s1600/sushi.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by avlxyz on Flicker</td></tr>
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2. Sushi seems to be one of those love or hate type of foods. Here's a little tidbit about me: When I was working in the restaurant industry, I spent a small stint working at a sushi bar. I was the only round eye there and as I look back on that experience I can't help but think about how cool that was.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C-rB43w8KK0/Tp9uB1Nk-qI/AAAAAAAACEs/jAxMtgEDJdA/s1600/cremeburlee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C-rB43w8KK0/Tp9uB1Nk-qI/AAAAAAAACEs/jAxMtgEDJdA/s1600/cremeburlee.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from Yorkblog.com</td></tr>
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3. There are a number of desserts that rank up there in the "I like" category, but making the top of the list would be Creme Burlee. The simple ingredients, (egg yolks, heavy cream, sugar and vanilla) work perfectly together. I love the crisp caramelized sugar on top along with the chilled, velvety custard.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NcYmZniWLKk/Tp9wpC5TB-I/AAAAAAAACE0/Zc5oQ9wfJdM/s1600/saladbar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NcYmZniWLKk/Tp9wpC5TB-I/AAAAAAAACE0/Zc5oQ9wfJdM/s320/saladbar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from Turbokick.com</td></tr>
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4. I've always enjoyed a good Salad Bar. We used to go to the Sizzler from time to time when I was growing up. I remember them having a great salad bar. It can be an entire meal in itself. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dwibkH5mXeg/Tp9337mjbOI/AAAAAAAACE8/c0ysLE2O9sE/s1600/artichoke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dwibkH5mXeg/Tp9337mjbOI/AAAAAAAACE8/c0ysLE2O9sE/s320/artichoke.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from Kaylynskitchen.com</td></tr>
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5. It's my opinion that anyone who would willingly eat an artichoke should have his or her head examined. It's a thistle people! It makes me wonder at what point some poor misguided soul went out into the sticker patch, looked at the knobby, green leafed bulb at the end of the stalk and said, "Wow, now that looks tasty! Think I'll take it inside, steam the snot out of it and then scrape the leaves against my teeth to enjoy the paste like substance contained within." One word Y U C K !!!Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-843897062921901090.post-43814991177946149802011-10-18T22:55:00.000-07:002011-10-18T22:55:27.797-07:00Six Places<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today's installment of the Ten Day Challenge asks us about six places. Here's my two cents worth.<br />
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1. As a place this one's as big as it gets. I've always been fascinated with space.I took an astronomy class in college and it captured both my rational understanding and my imagination. With every answer we get, there are at least a hundred questions that follow.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of NASA.gov</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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2. I mentioned the Pacific Ocean before in my lists of "Loves". I've enjoyed beaches from Baja to Washington. Running in the early morning hours along Moonlight Beach. The Blow Hole in Ensenada. Crabbing on the Oregon Coast... A lot of fond memories.<br />
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3.Washington DC is an amazing place. I went there about twenty-five years ago. I toured the Capitol Mall and was in awe of all the history that surrounded me there. The Lincoln memorial wowed me, but the most humbling experience was standing in the middle of Arlington Cemetery. I didn't know a single person who'd been laid to rest there, but I found myself standing there weeping at all the loss. I've never had a place move me like that before or since.<br />
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4. There's a place in eastern Oregon near Sunriver where there are lava tubes underground that you can walk through. We went during the summer and even though the temps outside were in the 90's, the temp in the caves was only around 40. It stays pretty consistent throughout the year because they are about seventy feet below the surface. Walking through them with the family holding lanterns and flashlights was pretty cool. Literally and figuratively.<br />
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5. One of my favorite places is San Francisco. I spent my young adult life living about an hour north of the city. Italian food at North Beach...yum! Giants and 49ers games at Candlestick Park...usually pretty cold, but a bunch of fun. I always got to play tour guide when friends would come to visit. BTW- October is usually a great month to go there. Even though I've lived in the Portland area for more than ten years now, I still consider the bay area home.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo By: <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:RichN" title="User:RichN">Rich Niewiroski Jr.</a></td></tr>
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6. Midland Texas is one place I have absolutely no desire to ever go to again...Ever! My oldest brother and his wife lived there for a brief time many years ago. Mom and I went there to visit once and I can remember it being the flattest place I've ever seen. I think the highest hill there was actually a freeway overpass! I also remember experiencing the wildest thunder and lightning storm ever while there. We were in a mobile home and that did not help me feel any more secure.Jeff Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978944708950054312noreply@blogger.com11