What a long strange trip it's been.....

There's a nod to the Grateful Dead for you.

Ok, so I said I was going to post pix, and, for once, I'm actually going to do it.

I know, right?

As I said yesterday, these will be a little different from standard vacation pictures.

This year, rather than drive to Dland in a single haul, we opted to take the slower, more scenic route. This gave us a chance to go to the beach. It was there that I snapped this:



Since I was driving this trip, I didn't really shoot any other pics until we got to our destination. This year, we stayed at the Paradise Pier, and I thought it cool that they projected images on the tower....



While wandering around shooting these, I also came upon this:




I'm also stoked to say that we stayed on:



We had a pretty good time this year, even though things were a bit different. It's kinda hard to explain, but things were just...different.

Have you ever ridden Big Thunder Mountain:



It's one of my faves.

And I wish there were a way to get a panorama like this:



in Dland proper, but here's one of California Adventure. The track you see in the forground (you did click it yes) is Muhullond Madness, which like most rides at the parks, does not allow break dancing:




So, there you have it, pictures, just as promised. I have others, of course, and many more stories to tell, but that'll have t' do y' fer today.

Buenos con queso,

T.

Once upon a time.....

Geez, how many of the stories of your youth began that way?

I know a fair amount of mine did.

So, sadly, I don't have a story to go along with that title. I'm back to my boring life. Not that I mind my boring life. I'm actually looking forward to doing absolutely nothing tomorrow.

Yes, you read that right.

I know that tomorrow's Monday, and by all rights I should be working, but as fate would have it, my days off got changed.

I'll now have Sundays and Mondays off. I think I like that better, at least for football season. Not that it's going to be a good season or anything.

Fucking Raiders.

Ok, so I think I'm going to try and put some pix up tomorrow. I'll warn you now though, they won't be your 'typical' vacation photos. I've shot a million family vacation photos over the last 7 years, and if you want to see some, email me, and I'll send you a couple.

No, this year, I went an entirely different direction.

See you tomorrow.

Buenos con queso,

T.

It's a pretty Mickey Mouse operation you're running around here.....

So, I'm home and all that.

I've got some pics, and I've got some stories to tell you (when dont i) but since today is technically the last day of my vacation (and still my day off) you're going to get this lame post.

Besides, I need a couple days to frame my thoughts.

And for those of you wondering, yes, I did pick up some things for some of you...

I'll be sending some stuff out soon, so keep an eye on your boxes.

Or your holes.

Or your slots.

Boy there's just not a way to say that to make it sound nice.

Lesse....how about your receptacles?

No, that doesn't really do it either....

Hmmm....

Keep an eye on your cavities....

Fuck it, I give up.

Buenos con queso,

T.

TerrorFest 2009 ??

While TJ and Family are down in LaLa land visiting with the MouseHead Community, We folks here in Realityville have witnessed multiple Terrorists being busted right here in America !

From some stupid kid in Texas, who drove a truckfull of "explosives under a 60 story Dallas skyscraper, to "The Beautician Bomber" arrested in Colorado, and accused of a 9-11-09 plot to blow up buildings in New York City, we have been besieged by the exposure of all these plots and plotters.

Since most of these cases have been in the works for some time, (the Dallas plot being a 2 year-long investigation), I'm wondering if the Federal Authorities timed these busts to coincide with both The UN General Assembly in NYC, and the "G-20" meeting in Philly' ?
Maybe this was all scheduled, or prolonged, so we could demonstrate to all the Anti-American visitors that The US is on top of all the evil plotters, and their Al Queda connections?

Planned or not, the thoroughness, and detailed knowledge about these maniacs and their associations should alert villains worldwide, that we are closely monitoring the Internet, the international calls and travel of virtually Everyone, and are able to weed-out the authentic threats from the stupid crackpots who would like to be arrested just to get their face on the News media.

Maybe the parties or persons We are trying to impress, are Dick, (The Torturer) Cheney, and his ilk, who want you to believe that we are less safe under President Obama's administration than we were under Dick and George.

Along those lines, have you noticed that "W" has been real quiet about Cheney's recent rants?, and that Bush's refusal to fully Pardon Scooter Libby, was his signal to Cheney that George will distance himself from the torture and invasions of privacy that Cheney advocated and created? I can only hope that Bush's attempts to separate his "Legacy" from Cheney's, and he will instead use his excellent Policies in Africa, where he made a real dent in the spread of both AIDS and Malaria.

During the worst of the previous Administrations abuses of power, I always believed that "W" was a reluctant participant, and except for the War on Iraq, George was just trying to keep his conservative base happy, and never wanted to be remembered as a War Criminal, or someone who Grew the Government and the Deficit in worst ways than any Liberal President has ever done .

O.K., I never wanted to waste your Saturday Morning Blog-Read, and I hope this food-for-thought was of interest to my friends as well as T's !

JPG: Photos: "Dance of the Nations" by Michael Ball

Hey Blog Buddies, check out this pic'. I know if TJ were here he would love the colors and contrasts of these Native American Dancers. This was taken in April of '09 in Albuquerque at what must have been a "Gatering of the Tribes".



JPG: Photos: "Dance of the Nations" by Michael Ball

For some of you, this is going to be old news, but.....

I have to tell you about something that happened on the Oregon trip.

It's kind of a long story, but I'll try and trim it down some.

Ok, so there was a bbq going on at sis's when we arrived, and the drinking began almost immediately. I paced myself, of course, as I knew I was going to be up early for the Jetboat Ride and there was no way I was going to spoil that with a hangover. I've got an upcoming post that's all about the boat ride, so this is where we skip around a bit.

It was early the next morning, and I was sitting in the kitchen drinking my coffee, when someone (family or friend i presumed) tried to come in the front door. Being the trusting sort, I got up and unlocked the door for him.

He came in, and we introduced ourselves. I said I'm T.J., L's brother. He looked slighly dumfounded, and introduced himself as James, 'L's step brother.' I imagine I had approximately the same look on my face at that point.

So, he was on the aforementioned boat ride, and we kinda got to know each other a bit. Later, we went to the 'party' portion of the party, and hung out some more. I can't tell you how many beers I drank, because again, I paced myself, but I was feeling no pain.

Everyone arrived home in a cab-driven alcholic haze, and we scoured the ice chests in search of the elusive 'leftover beer.'

Later, after things had kind of settled down and people were drifting off too bed, James was outside, enjoying the beautiful summer night.

He heard some rustling, and went to investigate. He was soon to discover that my sis's neighbor has horses. He nickered at them, and one of them came over. He was petting him/her, and thinking how cool it was, when he noticed the horse still had a harness on.

He leaned forward just a bit, and *SPING*!!!!!

His forhead bounced off the hot wire on the electric fence, dropping him to the ground like a fucking stone.

He knelt there, trying to figure out what the fuck happened...What am I, having a fucking siezure or something....heart attack...what the fuck's wrong.

So, he tells us this story Sunday morning over coffee, and everybody is just roaring laughter....I mean, it's mean, but c'mon...You have to laugh.

Just so you know, as new people came into the room...we'd let a few get in and then make him tell it again.

I must have heard it 5 times, and I laughed every time.

I want you to take a look at my new header pic. See, this is a picture of the fence. I did some extrapolation, and the way I figure it, his head must have hit the wire somewhere around the 'e' in Price.

On the left, you can see the bend in the wire fence where is left armpit hit it, holding him off the ground.

So, no matter how bad your weekend was, at least you didn't hit your forehead on an electric fence.

Buenos con queso,

T.

3 days and counting.....

It's almost time for the Dland excursion, and I'm sooooo fucking stoked I can hardly breathe.

This will be the first time in (i think) 3 years that both of my kids have been able to attend.

Last year, Michael couldn't come because of school, and the year before that, my daughter was in Uganda doing missionary work.

This year, tho, I get to hang with both of them.

I'm super stoked.

I know I promised you some pictures, but I'm still sorting through them.

I'll try and get some up before I go.

Buenos con queso,

T.

I'm home....

I'm also more tired than any human being should ever have to be.

I have some great pics, and some hilarious stories to share with you, just so you know.

I'll be posting them soon.

Also, please note that I only have 4 days here before I leave again. I'll try and post for the 4 days, and then, who knows.

I may give Herm rights to pubsish here, cause he asked.

Any of the others of you that have rights, please feel free to post when I'm at Dland.

Ok, can barely keep my eyes open so I'm outtie.

Buenos con queso,

T.

Is this where I"m supposed to be?

It's bee so long, I've almost forgotten.

I know there hasn't been much lately, and for that I apologize.

Actually, the world should be apologizing for me, ans it's been the world that's kept me from blogging.

Work, and just plain 'nothing going onness' have conspired to make me either too tired, or just too boring to be here.

That changes today tho.

See, I'm headed out to Oregon to celebrate my older sister's 50th birthday this morning. We're there for 3 days, and then, next Friday, we're Anaheim bound for our anuual vacay.

I know my sis has internet, but in all honesty, the whole trip is going to be so whirlwind, I'm not sure I'll find time to post, but I'll try.

And I think the hotel we're staying at for Dland has an internet room for guests, but I'll have to check into that. If it does, I'll see about posting from the 'Happiest Place on Earth'.

Also, those of you with publishing privileges, feel free to post in my abscence, either this weekend, or any time during the longer vacation (9/19-9/25) so that you can see something new here.

Hope all is well with y'all.

Buenos con queso,

T.