Ben & Alma

My Grandfather's 75th Birthday is coming up shortly and we've been discussing putting a pic of him in the local paper. So, I've been scanning and fixing up a few older pictures. I've decided to post some of these on my blog.


Here is a picture of my Grandfather taken in 1950 (he would have been around 19 years old at the time)

Here is a picture of my Grandmother. There was no date on the back of the picture, but I'm guessing she's probably around 7 or 8.

I've also been playing with these pictures and have managed to colourize them (my grandparents only) Here is the finished version. Not too bad if I do say so myself.

10x10

I'm a stumbler. No that doesn't mean that I have a few too many drinks and end up staggering around all uncoordinated like... It means that I stumble via "Stumble Upon". It's a great site. You download a little toolbar that goes at the top of your browser and you put your likes and dislikes in when you sign up. You then stumble around the web via a small button on the toolbar that says, interestingly enough "stumble"... and as you stumble around the web you refine your likes and dislikes by rating each page with a like it or don't like it. The site learns your likes and dislikes and you see LOTS of great things that you wouldn't normally find on the web...

Anyway. One of the neat things I stumbled upon today was a great site called 10x10

From the site:

10x10™ ('ten by ten') is an interactive exploration of the words and pictures that define the time. The result is an often moving, sometimes shocking, occasionally frivolous, but always fitting snapshot of our world. Every hour, 10x10 collects the 100 words and pictures that matter most on a global scale, and presents them as a single image, taken to encapsulate that moment in time. Over the course of days, months, and years, 10x10 leaves a trail of these hourly statements which, stitched together side by side, form a continuous patchwork tapestry of human life.

10x10 is ever-changing, ever-growing, quietly observing the ways in which we live. It records our wars and crises, our triumphs and tragedies, our mistakes and milestones. When we make history, or at least the headlines, 10x10 takes note and remembers.

Each hour is presented as a picture postcard window, composed of 100 different frames, each of which holds the image of a single moment in time. Clicking on a single frame allows us to peer a bit deeper into the story that lies behind the image. In this way, we can dart in and out of the news, understanding both the individual stories and the ways in which they relate to each other.

10x10 runs with no human intervention, autonomously observing what a handful of leading international news sources are saying and showing. 10x10 makes no comment on news media bias, or lack thereof. It has no politics, nor any secret agenda; it simply shows what it finds.

With no human editors and no regulation, 10x10 is open and free, raw and fresh, and consequently a unique way of following world events. In 10x10, we respond instinctively to patterns in the grid, visual indicators of relevance. When we see a frequently repeated image, we know it’s important. When we see a picture of a movie star next to a picture of dead bodies, we understand the extremes that exist in our world. Scanning a grid of pictures can be more intuitive than reading headlines, for it lets the news come to life, and everything feels a bit less distant, a bit closer to heart, and maybe, if we're lucky, gives us pause to think.

I just found it today but it seems really interesting and I'll definitely be going back soon. Check it out!

Olivia at the Fair

Here are a few pics we took of Olivia on one of the rides at the fair on Saturday. The batteries in the camera died after this ride, so there aren't a lot.

Olivia on the airplane ride.

Looks like she's concentrating pretty hard trying to keep that plaine in the air! *lol*

My Beautiful Baby

I had some news for all of you on Saturday but didn't post because I didn't have any pictures to go with them. The batteries in my camera died while we were at the fair on Saturday and I didn't get them recharged until today.

It's official. I have a "Beautiful Baby". Well, we always knew that I did, but Rachel came home with her own trophy after Saturday's Beautiful Baby contest, so now it's official!

There aren't a lot of pictures from the event, and they're quite fuzzy because of the very low light in the rink, but this is the best we've got, so it's all you're going to see. *grin*

Rachel and I beside another Mom and baby boy (in yellow) in the contest.

I don't know their names, maybe Kayla can post the info in the comments section,

I know she's friends with the mother.

Lynn Clark (1st Princess 2006) presenting Rachel with her trophy.

I was going to post some more pictures of Olivia on the rides, but Blogger is giving me troubles uploading the pics... so hopefully tomorrow I'll post more.

Children's Parade today

Well, it's the last day of the Summer Festival here and this morning was the Children's Parade at the Marina. You dress your kid up and put him or her on a bike or wagon or something like that and they go up and down the Marina road once or twice while judges watch them and decide which ones are best.

I don't envy the judges, there were LOTS of adorable kids with very cute costumes and decorated bikes/wagons... but of course, my kids were one of the best ones *lol* not TOO much "Mama Pride" showing through, is there?

Olivia and Rachel won for "Most Humorous" for the age group 2-5 years (Rachel wasn't officially an entrant, Olivia was entered and was pulling her in a wagon) They were Papa's "Cow" Girls and were dressed up as little cowgirls with a wagonload of stuffed cows on a bed of hay... Rachel was also a cowgirl and was laying on some blankets on the hay as well... I kept hearing everyone in the crowd whispering as we went by. "Its a real baby!" they kept saying. "How cute!"

Here are a few pictures from this morning.

Olivia, "Papa's Little Cowgirl"

Rachel sleeping in her soft bed of hay.

A close up of Rachel sleeping.

Olivia pulling Rachel in the wagon during the "parade".

Olivia getting her trophy from Angelina. (One of the judges)

Notice me in the background pointing for Olivia to look at the camera... Take a look at my cute new haircut!

Mini-Me

I know I haven't posted in a while, and although I'd like to say life's been too hectic, I have to admit that I'm merely too darn lazy! Not much of a surprise to those that know me well. *lol* However the other day I started a project of scanning a bunch of old pictures I'm currently in possession of, and I came across one that shocked me. It's a picture of me being held by my great-grandmother. Nothing very shocking in itself. What surprised me was how much I look like Rachel!

I couldn't get over it. I'm one of those people who usually don't see likenesses between babies and parents... well instead of letting me tell you, let me show you.

Me with my Great-Grandmother, Eva. I'm not sure how old I am in this picture but I recognize this dress as being the one I wore when I won the beautiful baby contest at the Fall Fair that year... I'm assuming then that this was taken in early September. That would have made me 5 months old.

Rachel in Mid July this year. She was just shy of 3 months old.

I don't know, maybe I'm seeing things that just aren't there, but to me the likeness is almost eerie. What do you think?

Funny for today

THIS IS SOME KIND OF CHILI CONTEST!

Note: please take time to read this slowly, and I promise you will laugh so hard, you will either start to cry or pee yourself so pay attention to every word.

For those of you who have lived in Texas, you know how true this is. They actually have a Chili Cook-Off about the time the Rodeo comes to town. It takes up a major portion of the parking lot at the Astrodome.

These notes are from an inexperienced Chili taster named Frank, who wasvisiting Texas for the East Coast.

Frank: "Recently I was honored to be selected as a judge at a Chili cook-off. The judge #3 called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judges table asking for directions to the Budweiser truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (Native Texans) that the chili wouldn't be all that spicy and besides, they told me I could have all the free beer during the tasting, so I accepted.

"Here are the score cards from the event (Brace your self)

Chili #1 * Mike's Maniac Mobster Monster Chili

Judge #1 * A little too heavy on the tomatoes. Amusing kick.
Judge #2 * Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.
Judge #3 * (Frank) Holy Shit! What the hell is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put the flames out. I hope that's the worst one. Those crazy Texans.

Chili #2 * Arthur's Afterburner Chili
Judge #1 * Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.
Judge #2 * Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously.
Judge #3 * Keep this out of the reach of children. Im not sure what I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted togive me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face.

Chili #3 * Fred's famous Burn Down The Barn Chili
Judge #1 * Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick needs more beans.
Judge #2 * A beanless chili, a bit salty, good use of peppers.
Judge #3 * Call the EPA. I've located a uranium spill. My nose feels likeI have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I'm getting shit faced from all the beer.

Chili #4 * Bubba's black magic
Judge #1 * Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.
Judge #2 * Hint of lime on the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili.
Judge #3 * I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the barmaid was standing behind me with fresh refills. That 300-lb bitch is starting tolook HOT*. Just like this nuclear waste I'm eating. Is chili an Aphrodisiac?

Chili #5 * Linda's Legal Lip Remover
Judge #1 * Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick.
Judge #2 * Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the cayenne peppers make a strong statement.
Judge #3 * My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I'm burning my lips off. It really pissed me off when the other judges asked me to stop screaming. Screw those rednecks!

Chili #6 * Vera's Very Vegetarian Variety
Judge #1 * Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers.
Judge #2 * The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions and garlic. Superb.
Judge #3 * I shit myself when I farted and I'm worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except that slut Sally. She must be kinkier than I thought. Can't feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my ass with a snow cone.

Chili #7 * Susan's Screaming Sensation Chili
Judge #1 * A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers.
Judge #2 * Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment. I should take note that I'm worried about Judge#3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing uncontrollably.
Judge #3 * You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin , and Iwouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like its made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which slipped unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava like shit to match my shirt. At least during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me. I've decided to stop breathing, its so painful. Screw it; I'm not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it in through the 4 inch hole in my stomach.

Chili #8 * Tommy's Toe-Nail Curling Chili
Judge #1 * The perfect ending, this is a nice blend of chili. Not too bold but spicy enough to declare its existence.
Judge #2 * The final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 passed out, fell over and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure he's going to make it. Poor dude, wonder how he'd have reacted to the really hot chili?