October 2015
Breakfast with the Family
31/10/15 20:18 Filed in: Family
It starts that it is a dark and stormy night. It actually is a very dark and stormy night, rainy too, for Halloween. The newer version of Halloween, the movie, is on. It is Ok, blah. Not like the Jamie Lee Curtis version.
Part of the family went out to breakfast this morning at Korner Kitchen.
I was able to capture these photos.
David and Jesse
Ryan (with Jesse's cap) and Renee
Part of the family went out to breakfast this morning at Korner Kitchen.
I was able to capture these photos.
David and Jesse
Ryan (with Jesse's cap) and Renee
Comments
Sleepy Hollow
30/10/15 06:58 Filed in: Interests
Currently on TV, there is a show called Sleepy Hollow. It is an updated, demon related take on the Sleepy Hollow legend of Washington Irving's. There have been a number of movies made about the town and also Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. Ooooo, Spooky, more so than what goes for spooky nowadays.
If a person wants to know more about what is legend and what is true, it can be check out here in this article.
So just in time for Halloween tomorrow,…..
"In a small town just 26 miles north of New York City, the Halloween season is bigger than Christmas. And it’s all thanks to the legend, almost 200 years old, of an infamous headless nightrider.
A short 40-minute express train from New York’s Grand Central transports you to the “drowsy shades of Sleepy Hollow” — previously North Tarrytown, before the good citizens voted in 1996 to rename it to capitalize on the tourist trade. Here, as Washington Irving described him in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” a dark-horse-riding specter was “said by some to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper, whose head had been carried away by a cannon ball, in some nameless battle during the revolutionary war…” "
If a person wants to know more about what is legend and what is true, it can be check out here in this article.
So just in time for Halloween tomorrow,…..
"In a small town just 26 miles north of New York City, the Halloween season is bigger than Christmas. And it’s all thanks to the legend, almost 200 years old, of an infamous headless nightrider.
A short 40-minute express train from New York’s Grand Central transports you to the “drowsy shades of Sleepy Hollow” — previously North Tarrytown, before the good citizens voted in 1996 to rename it to capitalize on the tourist trade. Here, as Washington Irving described him in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” a dark-horse-riding specter was “said by some to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper, whose head had been carried away by a cannon ball, in some nameless battle during the revolutionary war…” "
Winn Riders Day
29/10/15 06:44 Filed in: Interests
Today is National Cat Day and also the day that my friend, Glenn Olah, took off on his two day, almost 330 mile bike riding journey to raise money for cat health with Winn Feline Foundation. He got Bob a bike kit with all the Winn logos, cat paws and everything on it. We donated! Here is Bob in his Winn bike kit.
When Arcades Were Like Video Games
27/10/15 06:52 Filed in: Interests
The world is changing quickly. I have never been into games or even video type games though I remember the old PacMan game and Space Invaders. How long ago was that? In Lebanon we had our roller skating rink. It is still there but abandoned and no one has purchased it. Ah, nostalgia.
Here is an article with a lot of photos showing an old arcade where kids used to go to play stand up game machines versus on the computer or on our phones.
Here is an article with a lot of photos showing an old arcade where kids used to go to play stand up game machines versus on the computer or on our phones.
Happy Birthday, David
27/10/15 06:38 Filed in: Family
The boys seemed to be having fun while at the Pumpkin Patch playing with the plastic duck spillways. Nicolas and Ryan seemed to find a way to get very wet. David was getting into the action for awhile too.
Today is David's —th birthday, so Happy Birthday, son.
Today is David's —th birthday, so Happy Birthday, son.
Nathan and the Pumpkins
26/10/15 06:33 Filed in: Family
King of Straw Mountain
25/10/15 06:28 Filed in: Family
Ryan certainly liked getting up on the top of the big pile of straw and shouting. This was a great place to look and be bigger than everyone else.
Pumpkin Patch
24/10/15 18:23 Filed in: Family
The Lewises and Thayers headed out east of Albany to the Bose Pumpkin patch and maze. The kids had fun checking out the fun areas while other family members wandered the corn maze. Here is Ryan and his buddy, PaPa Bob, getting ready.
Battle of Leyte Gulf
23/10/15 16:46 Filed in: History
Porto Portugal
22/10/15 16:42 Filed in: Interests
I was not able to go to the International Society of Feline Medicine meeting this past summer in Porto, Portugal. I'm sure it was wonderful to visit. I was surprised to read of the struggles of Portugal and that Porto has been a bit of a ghost town trying to come back to life. See more about Porto here.
Atomic Gardens
21/10/15 16:37 Filed in: Interests
I came across an interesting article that seemed to take me back to being a child in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Much of the photos were in black and white. LIFE magazine was big in those days for capturing what happened in our world. This article describes how at one time people were encouraged to buy irradiated, "atomic-energised" seeds to plant for gardens in their own backyards. Read more here and look at these striking old photos from those days.
Stalin's Prosecutor
20/10/15 16:28 Filed in: History
I have pointed out in other blogs about Robert Conquest and the books he wrote that so thoroughly captured the history of Stalin's rule and damage to the people living under the Soviet Union. Another tribute to a man who brought history to life and did a good thing while doing so.
Magic and the Tower of London
19/10/15 16:27 Filed in: History
Were the people who kept the Tower of London running and safe, superstitious? Maybe so. Archeologists have found evidence that they tried to protect themselves against the powers of evil. An interesting story.
"The Tower of London has arguably been England’s premier fortress for almost a thousand years – but new evidence suggests that despite its impressive fortifications, its staff sometimes felt far from secure.
Research carried out by archaeologists in one of the fortresses’ major buildings has revealed that at least some of its inhabitants felt so insecure that they tried to use magic to give themselves an extra layer of protection."
"The Tower of London has arguably been England’s premier fortress for almost a thousand years – but new evidence suggests that despite its impressive fortifications, its staff sometimes felt far from secure.
Research carried out by archaeologists in one of the fortresses’ major buildings has revealed that at least some of its inhabitants felt so insecure that they tried to use magic to give themselves an extra layer of protection."
The USS Constitution
18/10/15 16:19 Filed in: History
Along the lines that it is another historical anniversary, it is the United States Navy's 240th anniversary. Six frigates were build to protect our new nation. One of those is the USS Constitution. This frigate has been docked in Boston and they have been working on the appropriate spot to dock her. Bob was able to visit the frigate when we were in Boston in 2012. Here is a lovely photo he took of his visit. Other photos are here.
Agincourt - We Band of Brothers
17/10/15 16:13 Filed in: History
Being an English history buff and also of the time period of the Plantagenets, I found it very interesting about the reminder that this is the 600th Anniversary of Henry V's victory over the French in Agincourt. To read a bit of background on this battle and Henry, one can go here. Certainly it is worth considering watching Shakespeare's Henry the Vth along with Richard the II and Henry the IVth in plays. Shakespeare could bring back the drama of those medieval times even if likely exaggerated in one direction but still brutal in another.
What a Pair
16/10/15 09:18 Filed in: Family
A cute photo Renee posted of Ryan and Jesse together. Ryan is like "let's get this over with, I'm bored" and Jesse is looking startled or "what are they having me do?". Fun picture.
A Woman Helped Get Us to the Moon
15/10/15 09:23 Filed in: Interests
Mountaineering - Death in the Clouds
14/10/15 09:27 Filed in: Interests
Mount Everest has always been a challenge and a source of fascination. In 1996, there was a large loss of life and dramatic rescues of survivors that have made it into the best seller book list and also movies. I came across a fascinating story about how many people have died climbing Everest and where most of the deaths have occurred. The story primarily covers more recent deaths and how many bodies are left on the mountain. Also, what it means to the people they left behind. A fascinating article.
Why Hands in Jackets in Portraits
13/10/15 11:13 Filed in: Interests
I guess I am going to have to do this for my next talk. 
"Conveying calm assurance, the practice of placing one hand inside of a top garment is ancient, dating back to before people even wore jackets, at least as we think of them.
In the 6th century B.C., it was considered rude in some Greek circles to speak with the hands outside of the clothing, especially when conducting matters of state. "
"Wishing to convey that the sitter was both of “good humor, and suitably elevated in character,” the pose of “hand-in” was soon adopted. Ironically, it became so popular among the English ruling class because (they thought) it conveyed them “in a manner deemed agreeable and without affectation.”
More detail is found here on how to be looking like Napoleon.
"Conveying calm assurance, the practice of placing one hand inside of a top garment is ancient, dating back to before people even wore jackets, at least as we think of them.
In the 6th century B.C., it was considered rude in some Greek circles to speak with the hands outside of the clothing, especially when conducting matters of state. "
"Wishing to convey that the sitter was both of “good humor, and suitably elevated in character,” the pose of “hand-in” was soon adopted. Ironically, it became so popular among the English ruling class because (they thought) it conveyed them “in a manner deemed agreeable and without affectation.”
More detail is found here on how to be looking like Napoleon.
Cats and Catnip
12/10/15 11:20 Filed in: Interests
Here is more information on why cats (or at least some) cats love catnip and will respond quite goofily to it.
"Catnip, which is a perennial herb in the mint family, contains a chemical called “nepetalactone” that is released when catnip is crushed. When cats get a whiff of nepetalactone, most will start rubbing themselves against it, playing with it, sometimes eating it, and generally will act quite bizarrely."
"Catnip, which is a perennial herb in the mint family, contains a chemical called “nepetalactone” that is released when catnip is crushed. When cats get a whiff of nepetalactone, most will start rubbing themselves against it, playing with it, sometimes eating it, and generally will act quite bizarrely."
Our First Genome
11/10/15 11:05 Filed in: Interests
DNA has been found on the recovered remains of a 4500-year-old human skeleton in Ethiopia. This is the first time DNA has been able to be extracted. They wonder if they will be able to go back further at some time in even older humans, possibly a million years back in time. Read more here.
"A team of scientists reported on Thursday that it had recovered the genome from a 4,500-year-old human skeleton in Ethiopia — the first time a complete assemblage of DNA has been retrieved from an ancient human in Africa.
The DNA of the Ethiopian fossil is strikingly different from that of living Africans. Writing in the journal Science, the researchers conclude that people from the Near East spread into Africa 3,000 years ago. In later generations, their DNA ended up scattered across the continent."
"A team of scientists reported on Thursday that it had recovered the genome from a 4,500-year-old human skeleton in Ethiopia — the first time a complete assemblage of DNA has been retrieved from an ancient human in Africa.
The DNA of the Ethiopian fossil is strikingly different from that of living Africans. Writing in the journal Science, the researchers conclude that people from the Near East spread into Africa 3,000 years ago. In later generations, their DNA ended up scattered across the continent."
Jungle Boy
10/10/15 11:56 Filed in: Family
The trail camera caught Ryan out helping PaPa get the trail camera card near the deer crossing. The area is overgrown with grass and brush so Ryan looks like a Jungle Boy.
Three Little Owl Hats
09/10/15 11:55 Filed in: Family
One of my favorite pictures of the boys. Renee ordered three owl hats for them to wear. Nicolas is a ham, Ryan thinks he has the best fashion statement, and Jesse looks hurt. I guess little Jesse was very tired right then. What a great photo!
A Ryan Day
08/10/15 16:40 Filed in: Family
We had Ryan stay for the day while Nicolas went on a field trip to OSU with his Mom. Jesse went to Dia's for the time being. Fun to have the crazy little one which shows in the picture where he likes to ham it up.
Bob at the Beach
07/10/15 16:38 Filed in: Travel
Cool Bob at the beach last week and the Hotel Del in the background. I wish we could do this more often.
Harbor Drive in San Diego
06/10/15 16:36 Filed in: Travel
I got a nice photo with interesting lines to it of Harbor Drive, the trolley line and the palm trees. Great view from Joan and Peter's balcony.
Marybeth and Bob
05/10/15 16:30 Filed in: Travel
Another great photo of a long time good friend, Marybeth Rymer, and Bob while at the AAFP conference. We have been friends since 1983 while meeting in Santa Cruz at another cat conference.
More Old Friends
04/10/15 08:56 Filed in: Travel
I was sent this photo of myself with two long time friends from AAFP, Canadians Heather Stewart and Sandy Jamieson. We all have been a crazy bunch of people who have fun at our meetings.
View From a Balcony
03/10/15 20:53 Filed in: Travel
We were invited over to Joan Miller and Peter Keys condo along Harbor Dr. It is located about 2 blocks from the Grand Hyatt where we were staying. We have been there once before and it is a lovely place to visit and has a great view of the harbor. I was able to capture a new sunset, not colorful, yet full of gorgeous light on the harbor.
Three Cat Experts
02/10/15 08:50 Filed in: Travel
Here is a great photo of three top cat experts that I know at the AAFP conference. From left to right: Dr. Susan Little, Dr. Ilona Rodan, Dr. Margie Scherk.
Winn Booth at AAFP
01/10/15 08:47 Filed in: Travel
