All total we traveled 3000 miles. I must have filled up over 10 times! We stayed in 3 hotels. We went under mountains and through them and over them. We passed by fields, forests, lakes, an ocean, over bridges and through tunnels. All the while with four boys and a back-seat-driving wife! Minnie did something that she often does-something wonderful and magnificent and magical-she brought audio books along! SWEET!
We listened to 2 great books, Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen. And A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. we also listened to part of Culture Warrior by Bill O'Reilly, but since we did not finish I will save my review until another time-I will say I found what I heard extremely interesting and appreciative.
Water for elephants was about a man’s story in a circus in the 1930s in the midst of the Depression. It is told within a couple of years ago as he is much older. He starts out, “I am 90 or 93, I forget which…” It was a very touching story. It made me miss my dad. But it also made me thankful that he did not outlive his mind and body. It was also a story about life in a circus! It is a fairly new book and it was great, I highly recommend it. The ending was fantastic.
A 1000 Splendid Suns was also a great book. It journaled the life of 2 women who grew up in Afghanistan. It started in the mid 1970 and went to just a few years ago. Afghanistan, as it turns out, was peaceful and beautiful and radiant in the 1970s. Then the cold war hit smack dab in the middle and the U.S. gave the Afghanistan tribes weapons to fight off the Russians. Communism was established and land was taken away. The one thing that communism did bring to the region was a great importance on education and to have it equally to males and females. But women were allowed to learn and go to universities before this. Religion was downplayed and so was commerce. Once the Russians retreated the tribes were left with weapons and fought each other for power. Many people died at the hands of their own country men, but different tribes. There were fighters who tried to establish free elections, but they too were motivated by power and greed. Some tribes that had felt like they had been oppressed fought not for fair representation, but for total control. Then the Taliban came and everything went to hell. The Taliban proclaimed and enforce Sharia law. Women suddenly became worthless and oppressed. Women had to be covered in public by wearing burkas. They were never allowed to travel without a male escort and could not laugh in public or initiate conversation. Women were forbidden to work and attend schools. Hospitals were segregated. The character in the story was forced to attend a hospital with little electricity and ran only by women. They were not allowed anesthesia and the main character delivered a baby by cesarean with no pain medication whatsoever. A drought hit the region at the same time. Finally, Al Qaeda forced out the Taliban. I do not know how things went after that. There is actually a love story woven in and a relationship that strengthens between a young wife and an older wife married to the same abusive man. The few story lines take a bit to develop but are well worth the wait.
The Afghani book was written by an Afghan for Westerners. It showed how the people in general do not hate America, but have become oppressed and have been kept uneducated and taught to love war. It made me realize how little I know of the region, culture and history.
Since I am in review mode I will talk about Ratatouille which I saw with my family. Transformers was completely sold out. Disney’s Ratatouille was entertaining and the story was pretty good. The ending TOTALLY and completely sucked though. The multitude of rats running the kitchen was unbelievable and dumb. They spent all this time making us think that it is special and uncommon for a rat to interact with a human and to cook, then just expected us to think that it was OK for hundreds of rats to do the same, out goes special. It was like saying “Hey this is special and magical and now it is common life, no big deal.” The story with the food critic was pretty cool, I liked that-it was creative and fun-I liked the resolution. Then the very ending with the transitions that happen in the restaurant was just joltingly sudden and just disappointing. It was like they created a great script and built up to a great conflict then just wasn’t quite sure how to resolve and wrap things up-so they made a few wrong decisions…and it became boring and disappointing. I guess the theme came through: Anyone can cook. Yippy.
-Durk-
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Summer Vacation 2007 (4 of 6)-Oceans of Fun
On the fifth of July we traveled to Ocean City, Maryland. We got there a little late but still had time to play in the ocean. Corbin hated the water. I think he was scared of the moving water and the crashing sounds-the water may have been too cold for him too. Kaleb & Keegan LOVED the water. Calvin warmed up to the ocean on day 2.
The Boardwalks has a whole host of beach shops, games and rides. Kaleb & Keegan and I rode on a few roller coasters and had a blast! We ate cotton candy. It was a beautiful evening, warm but not hot with a cool breeze.
That evening there were fireworks! They had been cancelled on the 4th Due to wind and they had also been cancelled in PA due to heavy rains! They were very beautiful at the ocean. The weather was perfect! Corbin hated the fireworks.
Day 2 at the beach was an adventure. Kaleb & Keegan had boogie boards and they got pretty good at it. Calvin was timid of the water but loved the wet sand and splashing along the “finish line” as he called it-where the ocean met the sand.
Sand…I learned that I hate it. It would not have been so bad, but I did not wear my swim trunks to the beach-neither did Minnie. I don’t know what I was thinking! I brought it to the beach, but there was no where to change! You were not allowed to change in the public bathroom! So I had jean shorts on and therefore only waded in the ocean. I also failed to put sunscreen on my legs-they got burned real good.
That evening we met up with Minnie’s cousin Melanie. Her husband met us later and we all had a nice visit. Melanie is trying to get into modeling and Josh is trying to get into the comic book business.
We found out after we returned home and attended church that our pastor and his wife had been to Ocean City on the 6th! We were all there at the same time! Pretty cool.
-Durk-
The Boardwalks has a whole host of beach shops, games and rides. Kaleb & Keegan and I rode on a few roller coasters and had a blast! We ate cotton candy. It was a beautiful evening, warm but not hot with a cool breeze.
That evening there were fireworks! They had been cancelled on the 4th Due to wind and they had also been cancelled in PA due to heavy rains! They were very beautiful at the ocean. The weather was perfect! Corbin hated the fireworks.
Day 2 at the beach was an adventure. Kaleb & Keegan had boogie boards and they got pretty good at it. Calvin was timid of the water but loved the wet sand and splashing along the “finish line” as he called it-where the ocean met the sand.
Sand…I learned that I hate it. It would not have been so bad, but I did not wear my swim trunks to the beach-neither did Minnie. I don’t know what I was thinking! I brought it to the beach, but there was no where to change! You were not allowed to change in the public bathroom! So I had jean shorts on and therefore only waded in the ocean. I also failed to put sunscreen on my legs-they got burned real good.
That evening we met up with Minnie’s cousin Melanie. Her husband met us later and we all had a nice visit. Melanie is trying to get into modeling and Josh is trying to get into the comic book business.
We found out after we returned home and attended church that our pastor and his wife had been to Ocean City on the 6th! We were all there at the same time! Pretty cool.
-Durk-
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Summer Vacaton 2007 (3 of 6)-Family
Vacationing in Pennsylvania means visiting family! Specifically, The In-Laws.
Staying with tradition I cut my hair before we left Kansas City. The tradition started the first time my wife and I visited her family on their turf. I met them when they came here to Kansas when Minnie and I got married. My hair was long and my wife's hair was short! My wife's family are fundamental Independent Baptists and they did not like my long hair! So I cut it all off when I went to Bethlehem, PA for the first time. And this trip was no exception...I was WAAAY over due for a whacking anyway!
Breaking with tradition we stayed with Minnie's sister Tammie instead of Minnie's parents...Tammie, what to say about her? Well, I lover her. She is strong-willed and stubborn. She rebels against her mom and dad while ending up just like them! She works too much-work has become her identity and I fear that one day all the lack of sleep and stress will take its toll on her. I hope not. She's wounded and she is struggling to live a healthy life, but then again so are most of us. We butt heads most of the time, but what I really want to show her or prove to her or persuade her of is that there is a whole world out there that is better than the one she places herself in, the one she hates and tolerates and escapes from and martyrs through. It isn't MY world, but it is different and one that I have found by grace. But just the fact that I want it for her usually is the reason she won't attempt it. Although she did say that if she could find 1 job that paid the same as her current 2 jobs that she'd consider moving out here! Hey, that is something!
Minnie's parents are in a new house! It is away from their previous book-cased, row home, house and it actually has a yard! And a car port! And flowers and trees! And none of it is shared with the neighbors! SWEET!
Minnie's aunts, Darene and Fran, haven't changed much. They still live together in the same house with their dogs. A couple of new dogs and a couple less than before. They show their love by giving us all kinds of gifts that they have gotten over the years...backpacks and games and toys for the boys. An expensive telescope that we strapped to the roof to transport back to KC. Other nick knacks. And then the stuff that we just couldn't fit and had to leave behind, exercise equipment and all kinds of really cool stuff.
The rest of her family offered things to take as well, food, a weed whacker, blankets and more exercise stuff...drinks and candy and...well, gifts that they lovingly lavish on Minnie and her family.
They all bide for Minnie's time and attention. Tammie "won" the most by hosting us! And she was an awesome host and we felt very comfortable and taken care of! Tammie also traveled with us on much of our vacation. We had a great time visiting with her. Minnie has grown very close to her sister over the past years and Tammie loved getting to know the boys more. Minnie's parents won a little bit by offering meals and a new house to visit and check out (new neighbors and a new yard and a new garage and a new basement), but I know her dad wanted to spend more time with Minnie-even though he got to hang out with us a the Knobels theme park, I am sure he would have liked to spend more time with just Minnie without everyone else. Minnie's aunts won a little by offering stuff! They buy all of this stuff for us but we have to personally pick it up! They took us all to lunch one day-that was very nice. I think all of the children are a little overwhelming for them-the kids are messy and loud and Darene and Fran are quiet and have their routines.
Minnie is the prodigal daughter, the one that returns home every so often-not often enough. The one that made it out. The one that lives too darn far away! The one that married. The one that didn't stay home. The one that went off and started her own family far away from the East. Just about the only one in her immediate family who is not bound to the rest of the family by physical location and emotion. That is a blessing and a curse, good and bad.
There is always running around trying to visit everyone and worrying about "equal time" and such is true on any family trip-Mine when I go back home to Iowa and Minnie's as we traveled through Pennsylvania.
We got to see Minnie's ailing grandparents. They seem to be doing well. We got to see Minnie's best friend Kenda and her family-well most of her family. And we got to visit Minnie's cousin Melanie and her husband in Ocean City, MD.
I love Minnie's family, my family. And I love that they love Minnie and the rest of us.
-Durk-
Staying with tradition I cut my hair before we left Kansas City. The tradition started the first time my wife and I visited her family on their turf. I met them when they came here to Kansas when Minnie and I got married. My hair was long and my wife's hair was short! My wife's family are fundamental Independent Baptists and they did not like my long hair! So I cut it all off when I went to Bethlehem, PA for the first time. And this trip was no exception...I was WAAAY over due for a whacking anyway!
Breaking with tradition we stayed with Minnie's sister Tammie instead of Minnie's parents...Tammie, what to say about her? Well, I love
Minnie's parents are in a new house! It is away from their previous book-cased, row home, house and it actually has a yard! And a car port! And flowers and trees! And none of it is shared with the neighbors! SWEET!
Minnie's aunts, Darene and Fran, haven't changed much. They still live together in the same house with their dogs. A couple of new dogs and a couple less than before. They show their love by giving us all kinds of gifts that they have gotten over the years...backpacks and games and toys for the boys. An expensive telescope that we strapped to the roof to transport back to KC. Other nick knacks. And then the stuff that we just couldn't fit and had to leave behind, exercise equipment and all kinds of really cool stuff.
The rest of her family offered things to take as well, food, a weed whacker, blankets and more exercise stuff...drinks and candy and...well, gifts that they lovingly lavish on Minnie and her family.
They all bide for Minnie's time and attention. Tammie "won" the most by hosting us! And she was an awesome host and we felt very comfortable and taken care of! Tammie also traveled with us on much of our vacation. We had a great time visiting with her. Minnie has grown very close to her sister over the past years and Tammie loved getting to know the boys more. Minnie's parents won a little bit by offering meals and a new house to visit and check out (new neighbors and a new yard and a new garage and a new basement), but I know her dad wanted to spend more time with Minnie-even though he got to hang out with us a the Knobels theme park, I am sure he would have liked to spend more time with just Minnie without everyone else. Minnie's aunts won a little by offering stuff! They buy all of this stuff for us but we have to personally pick it up! They took us all to lunch one day-that was very nice. I think all of the children are a little overwhelming for them-the kids are messy and loud and Darene and Fran are quiet and have their routines.
Minnie is the prodigal daughter, the one that returns home every so often-not often enough. The one that made it out. The one that lives too darn far away! The one that married. The one that didn't stay home. The one that went off and started her own family far away from the East. Just about the only one in her immediate family who is not bound to the rest of the family by physical location and emotion. That is a blessing and a curse, good and bad.
There is always running around trying to visit everyone and worrying about "equal time" and such is true on any family trip-Mine when I go back home to Iowa and Minnie's as we traveled through Pennsylvania.
We got to see Minnie's ailing grandparents. They seem to be doing well. We got to see Minnie's best friend Kenda and her family-well most of her family. And we got to visit Minnie's cousin Melanie and her husband in Ocean City, MD.
I love Minnie's family, my family. And I love that they love Minnie and the rest of us.
-Durk-
Summer Vacaton 2007 (2 of 6)-Observations about the East
The East is cramped. Tiny 2-lane Turnpikes and highways. Pressed together row homes. Long, narrow alleys. Narrow, curvy roads through the mountains and valleys. Cars parked all along both sides of the curbs. The beach was crowded. Cramped.
The East is impatient and FAST. This I actually like! I like speed, I like to go fast. I wanna go, go go! But when you combine tight spaces with speed it can be disastrous. Fortunately, we had a safe trip-even when those motorcycles came out of freaking NOWHERE!
The East is beautiful. Driving under and through the mountains & valleys. Dancing around at the beach, and wading through the crashing raves. Driving by the forest, marshlands, rivers & bridges. Going to parks, through old Amish & Mennonite country, by corn fields & tobacco fields, farms, and country towns. Heck even the old abandoned steel factories in Allentown, PA were sadly rusty and beautiful.
-Durk-
The East is impatient and FAST. This I actually like! I like speed, I like to go fast. I wanna go, go go! But when you combine tight spaces with speed it can be disastrous. Fortunately, we had a safe trip-even when those motorcycles came out of freaking NOWHERE!
The East is beautiful. Driving under and through the mountains & valleys. Dancing around at the beach, and wading through the crashing raves. Driving by the forest, marshlands, rivers & bridges. Going to parks, through old Amish & Mennonite country, by corn fields & tobacco fields, farms, and country towns. Heck even the old abandoned steel factories in Allentown, PA were sadly rusty and beautiful.
-Durk-
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Summer Vacation 2007 (1 of 6) - Vacation from My Vacation
Maybe it is transporting 6 people all across the East. Maybe it is 3000 miles I am putting on the rented Yukon. Maybe because I am not visiting my side of the family. Maybe it is the awful East coast driving in cramped space. Whatever the reason, I need a vacation from my vacation!
Now don't get me wrong...it is great seeing family (even The In-Laws!). The mountains in PA & OH are a spectacular site. The beach at Ocean City, MD was powerful and soothing and neat. But it was rush to get there, rush to see everyone and rush to do everything once you are there and with family and friends!
Where is the relaxation! NO TIME!
My children and wife had the time of their life. I am VERY thankful for that.
-Durk-
Now don't get me wrong...it is great seeing family (even The In-Laws!). The mountains in PA & OH are a spectacular site. The beach at Ocean City, MD was powerful and soothing and neat. But it was rush to get there, rush to see everyone and rush to do everything once you are there and with family and friends!
Where is the relaxation! NO TIME!
My children and wife had the time of their life. I am VERY thankful for that.
-Durk-
Friday, June 22, 2007
Photo Sharing with Google & Yahoo
I am continuing my discussion of photo sharing sites. Photobucket is ad-driven. Shutterfly has less ads and allows you to order prints. Snapfish offers a personalized photo product line. Today's photo sharing sites are sponsored by Google & Yahoo!
http://www.flickr.com/
Flickr is associated with Yahoo and uses one's Yahoo account info (login and password).
Wikipedia says this:
http://www.flickr.com/
Flickr is associated with Yahoo and uses one's Yahoo account info (login and password).
Wikipedia says this:
Flickr is a photo sharing website and web services suite, and an online community platform, which is generally considered an early example of a Web 2.0 application.
In addition to being a popular Web site for users to share personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers as a photo repository. Its popularity has been fueled by its innovative online community tools that allow photos to be tagged and browsed by folksonomic means.
Stats at a glance for http://www.flickr.com/:
- Cost: Free with Yahoo ads, but limited bandwidth, limited archiving and the account disappears after 90 consecutive days of inactivity.
- Upgrade: $24.95/yr to upgrade to a pro account and get pretty much unlimited everything and permanent archiving and ad-free browsing.
- Storage: When you have a free Flickr account, you can upload 100MB worth of photos each calendar month. This is a bandwidth limit, and not an amount of space that you have on Flickr servers.
- Software: Flickr (free download)
- What sets this site apart: The ability to tag pictures with keywords and blog and photo integration.
http://picasaweb.google.com/
picasaweb is associated with Google and uses one's Google account info (login and password).
Wikipedia says this:
Picasa is a computer application for organizing and editing digital photos. In July 2004, Google acquired Picasa from Idealab and began offering Picasa for free download.Stats at a glance for http://picasaweb.google.com/:
For organizing photos, Picasa has file importing and tracking features, as well as tags and collections for further sorting. It also offers several basic photo editing functions, including color enhancement, red eye reduction and cropping. Other features include slide shows, printing and image timelines. Images can also be prepared for external use, such as for e-mailing or printing, by reducing file size and setting-up page layouts. There is also integration with online photo printing services.
- Cost: Free with not too many ads but limited storage.
Upgrade: 6.25 GB ($25 USD per year)
25 GB ($100 USD per year)
100 GB ($250 USD per year)
250 GB ($500 USD per year) - Storage: 1GB of free storage.
- Software: Picasa (free download)
- What sets this site apart: The ability to tag pictures with keywords, Picasa's web albums and simple photo editing.
Next time I will talk about Dotphoto. Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photo_sharing for more info on photo sharing.
-Durk-Sprint Mogul (PPC6800) by HTC Officially Unveiled
Well, the phone I have been waiting for, nay, dreaming about was finally released this wee
k. The next version of the PPC6700-my phone that I love so much-has finally been released. UTStarcom was bought by HTC and HTC has just released the Mogul.
Here is an initail review:
http://reviews.cnet.com/smart-phones/mogul-153-by-htc/4505-6452_7-32471386.html?tag=nefdprod.rev
Of course I want one, heck I want 5! But for now I am reading up on it. I just can't justify the $400. I also have a friend who got one for free. I hope to check his out. I hope I don't kill him in the process and steal it. I liked him just fine until I found out that he got one for FREE! FOR FREE!?
-Durk-
k. The next version of the PPC6700-my phone that I love so much-has finally been released. UTStarcom was bought by HTC and HTC has just released the Mogul.Here is an initail review:
http://reviews.cnet.com/smart-phones/mogul-153-by-htc/4505-6452_7-32471386.html?tag=nefdprod.rev
Of course I want one, heck I want 5! But for now I am reading up on it. I just can't justify the $400. I also have a friend who got one for free. I hope to check his out. I hope I don't kill him in the process and steal it. I liked him just fine until I found out that he got one for FREE! FOR FREE!?
-Durk-
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