question-o-the-day

Ethan Redux

2008-03-09T11:22:00.000-07:00

Haven't checked Zach's blog yet?

Contagious baby action.

Ethan

2008-03-08T20:09:00.000-08:00

Have you seen Zach's blog?

Check it out! Use the links on the right.....

Lost

2008-03-05T19:05:00.000-08:00

Lost has taken on a rather interesting aspect with the character of Desmund. Is this too far over the edge of reason?

Oh you don't watch it?

Football

2008-03-04T22:32:00.000-08:00

So, I really mean soccer. Tonight we played a friendly gamed against some brits here for some kind of convention. We had about 14 players, they had 11. It was a full 90 minutes with regular league refs.

It was a lot of fun and in the end we won, we kind of wore them out. It was about 5-1 and yes the old guy scored.

Well, the question for today. Is there a future for soccer in the United States?

Auto Makers

2008-03-03T17:08:00.000-08:00

It could be that this question is age related. Perhaps you have to be somewhere around my age for this to make sense. It is also possible that it's gender oriented as well. And the fact is, I don't drive either one, but I definitely have a bias.

The question, Ford or Chevy?

Forget your Toyotas and Hondas, they really don't count.

Influence

2008-03-02T10:14:00.000-08:00

I'm rereading one of my favorite books, Under the Net by Iris Murdoch. Murdoch was a philosophy don at Oxford. While her books do have an aspect of philosophy, it doesn't diminish her ability to develop her characters, giving them great deal of depth and moving the narrative in an interesting and creative manner. I've always really like several of the characters in this book, particularly Jake and Finn.

Have you been influenced by a fictional character?

Posting everyday for a month

2008-03-01T21:01:00.000-08:00

I'm signing on for this activity or self torture. When I initially created this blog, I thought that I'd post a question and that it might arouse a bit of discussion. So that'll be the task to post a question of the day, each day in March.

I wonder, do you think it will work?

Did you think it would get better? It did!!!!

2007-11-01T19:53:00.000-07:00

This Sunday is a really big game, the New England Patriots (8-0) will be playing the Indianapolis Colts (7-0). This is big, like you haven't heard about it. Hmmm, right.

When I was a kid growing up in SLC, the lack of a local or even nearby professional football team, left me with a roaming and temporary allegiance. One week the Raiders, the next some other team. My favorite play? Johnny Unitas quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, he's still one of the greatest.

At any rate, I moved to Boston in December of 1969, there was a sports cornucopia of professional teams, the Bruins, the Celtics, the Red Sox and yes, the Boston Patriots. A year later they became the New England Patriots.

This was the Patriots logo in those days.....I know kinda goofy.

When Trav was just a baby, I would prop him up in the baby seat in front of the game on Sunday afternoons. For years we watched the Pats as every team in the NFL beat the holy crap out them. It was bad, but nobody around the league was feeling sorry for the Pats and I don't remember the Pats whining about any beat down.

This is the Pats logo now, it's a sleek and strong design and it's three Super Bowls later. And it's great that the Pats did this without the "super star" players and ethic built on teamwork.

So who's getting the beat down now? Oh yeah! Everybody! And why is the sports media, some fans and players doing the "running up the score shuffle"? I'd say they have no historical memory, they're jealous of what may be one of the great teams ever and they're big baby whiners.

On to Indianapolis! Are you ready for some football!!!!

Go Pats!!!

Could it be any better?

2007-10-21T21:41:00.000-07:00

The Red Sox have advanced to the World Series!!!
Life is a great guitar!

How do you replace a pet?

2007-05-03T22:26:00.000-07:00

Meet my new pet...Patti brought it home today and we found a new place for it.

I'm particularly happy about the feeding and eliminating requirements.

Do you like it?

The donuts are coming !!!!

2007-05-03T21:52:00.001-07:00

Over the next seven years Dunkin' Donuts is planning to open 62 stores in the Las Vegas area.
The first store opens in August '07. Maybe in time for my birthday. What da ya think about that?

Have you seen the movie A Christmas Story?

2007-04-25T21:47:00.001-07:00

Missa and Matthew had a request and I was happy to comply, I should have mentioned in my reply that the classroom in the movie A Christmas Story was exactly like all the classrooms at my elementary school. Patti thought that it might make a good post on my blog. So here we go.

Dad,

Matthew and I want to ask you to participate in his Grandparent
Report project. I meant to have Matthew do this while we were in Las
Vegas, but we spaced it

Can you answer the following questions for us?
I can certainly answer a few questions. It was a long time ago and I barely remember.

1. What was school like when you were in the second grade?

I went to Oquirrh Elementary School, in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was a pretty old school. The desks were bolted to the floor in rows. They were pretty old too. They even had ink wells, which was a hole in the desk top to hold a bottle of ink for fountain pens. But we used regular pens and pencils. We stayed in the same room all day long. We had one teacher she taught all subjects. Everyday we had a little carton of milk, either plain or chocolate. We had morning and afternoon recess and lunch, too. We also practiced air raid drills, World War II hadn't been over that long and people were still afraid.

2. What kinds of things did you do for fun when you were my age?

> We played baseball and football, we played with our toys, trucks, lincoln logs and little plastic toy soldiers. But I think we mostly played Cowboys and Indians. We did this all the time, we'd divide everybody up and we'd run around hiding and pretend shooting at each other and we'd all fall down and play dead. It was always good to die as dramatically as possible. Then we'd get up and do it again. This is no longer politically correct behavior.

3. What kinds of foods did you eat?

> Meatloaf and pot roast were popular, so were vegetables. My Mom, your great-grandmother used to can pears and peaches and we'd have them all year round. Watermelon was a favorite summer treat. Popsicles and Fudgesicles too.

4. What were our chores when you were my age?

Picking up my room. Washing and drying dishes, there weren't any dishwashing machines when I was your age. We washed and dried the dishes after every meal.

5. What is the biggest change you have noticed in your lifetime?

Technology and the distribution of information, all sorts, the internet, cable television. When I was your age, TV was brand new, three channels and only in black and white.

6. Why is my family special?

I have the best and most special family because they are loving and kind. We like to be together and we have fun and enjoy each other's company when we are together.

I'm supposed to track down, if possible, something used by you in
your lifetime that isn't necessarily in use today. Can you think of
something? They are saying farm implements, kitchen implements,
school or household implements, for example. (Farm implements?!?
Where am I going to get my hands on farm implements?) If you can
think of something of interest, I might try to track it down somewhere.

How about a clothes pin, everybody had a clothesline in their backyard....harder to find an AM only radio.

Also, if you have any pictures you could scan for us to use that would be fabulous, too. I think I'll print that one of you in uniform off your blog.

I'll look around...see what I can come up with....

I hope this isn't too much of a pain. Let me know if this isn't a good time for you to take this on. I'll understand if it's a busy time for you..

It could never be a pain!
Love,
-popa

Love,
Miss & Matthew

2007-01-24T22:40:00.000-08:00

Last week Zach was off the 34ft tower. The one pictured here.

This week is the 250ft one.

Check it out at!
https://www.benning.army.mil/airborne/airborne/

Zach now been at two of the posts where I was stationed.
Ft. Sill, OK & Ft, Benning, GA

2007-01-23T15:58:00.000-08:00

Zach is in week two of airborne school. Last we spoke he'd been off the 34ft tower and this week was looking forward to the 250ft one.

Check it out at:
https://www.benning.army.mil/airborne/airborne/

2006-12-21T08:13:00.000-08:00

Zach got home yeserday. He looks great in his ACUs, they called them fatigues in my day. I snapped a shot of him by the tree.

I've noticed that people often make encouraging and supportive remarks to soldiers. It happened while we were leaving the airport. That's something else that has changed and that's a great change.

2006-07-17T10:57:00.000-07:00

Zach asked for picture of me in my Army dress blues, it was taken just before I left for Vietnam. I haven't been able to locate it yet, but I did come across the one that Grandma & Grandpa had done after basic trainig.

I'm wondering ... Grandma and Grandpa's propensity to have my picture taken was an indication of their belief that they were never going to see me again. Hmmmmm....that's how my bedroom ended up a den.

Something else I just thought of, my great grandmother, Tina Berg, had four pictures of her sons in uniform all of whom served in WWII. I was reminded of this by the nexus of the posted picture and Bridie and I watched Saving Private Ryan last night. But at any rate maybe the picture thing is an old family habit!

We're going to see Zach graduate, I'll get some pictures.

2006-07-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

Zach asked for a picture of his sisters and the bus. It's at the shop getting some work done so I could only get a snap of it where it's locked up! It's still lookin' good!

2006-06-30T23:25:00.000-07:00

OK, here we go let's try a few more pics! I think that there may be a little baby grand daughter showing up pretty soon. Could make for more awesome baby snaps!

2006-06-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

Wow, I love seeing this picture!