looking back for some mellow

been busy and a lot of intense emotions lately. Big season of life change and stuff breaking at the same time. Throw in 115F+ heat. Blogging? /meh not so much.

Took a minute to scan these old photos while getting a bite of lunch at my desk today.

Dawn patrol memories from the mid-90's.
Really had to step back and lean to get that board lined up in time for the beach break lip to come over. Not much rocker in that stick and a single fin made it interesting to turn in a hurry.

Same crew, different morning spot. Oh Danny boy, it's good to see you there in the background.


Love that hot coffee thermos after cold winter morning surf.


That board was stolen some time later. My "little brother from another Mother" has moved on to adventures and life from Alaska to Argentina. Miss the board. Miss my brother Dan even more.

Mr Fix-it

Busy, busy. Stuff to fix.

Dishwasher, hot water heater, pool heater, relationships, stuff at church, anti-freeze in the drive under a car tonight (that needs to carry kids to a church event up north tomorrow), and so on.

Spent good money a few years ago on a new dishwasher only to have the racks rust out in short order. Found replacements on line. They ain't cheap. Finally got around to ordering. Arrived today and installed after work. Looking good.
It's good to be alive. I mean considering the alternative. /heh


Brown truck of happiness also dropped on this box. This does NOT fall under the heading of necessity. It's a diversion -- more on that later. Any guesses?


In other news, we're having a heatwave. Over 105F the last couple days. Enjoying the pool (while we can).

Let me get this straight

We're going to pass a health care plan written by a committee whose head says he doesn't understand it,

Passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it,

Signed by a president that also hasn't read it and who smokes,

With funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes,

Overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and

financed by a country that's nearly broke.

What could possibly go wrong?

College course crashers

First day of classes at the local college. These two got to crash before they even made it to first day of Fall term classes needing "crashed."

I was just a bit behind daughter #1 and her Taurus this morning on my way to work. I didn't actually see it happen but did see the great cloud of smoke from skidding tires. It was like the first turn at Daytona. Traffic backed up as the college turn off approached and then slowed suddenly -- too suddenly for the young woman behind her in the Chevy Cobalt.


The Chevy got the worst of it -- and should get the bill. /heh


ooo, owie, owie...


I was glad I was there to help them get off the road -- they were a bit amp'd up and hadn't thought to step over the railing to a safer spot. The traffic was crazy out there.

Sleep deprivation...

...is really underrated as a drug.
We picked up the Son&Heir at the airport upon his return from first NROTC camp.

The fuzzy dim picture is appropriate. Pretty much sums up the way these young men were feeling after 4 days and nights of drill and Gunny_up_in_your face culture shock on 2-3 hours of sleep.

Rocked his world.

Growth experience. :-)

Want to have a little fun this morning? Stand at the foot of his bed and holler "'tention on DECK" /heh

Rahm's Roundup

Lex posted a dandy roundup of the Democrat's dilemma on healthcare -- maintaining th necessary coalition of votes while not losing their Congressional majority in 2010.
LINK


I wonder if some of the electorate are starting to ask themselves “What healthcare crisis?”

I wonder how many of them saw the study that reported that on average the uninsured American is more satisfied with the healthcare they receive than the average Canadian who gets “the government option?”

Deo Volente, enough folks are questioning just how big a change we should risk in order to fix a 5% problem.


I watched my Dad as a hospital adminstrator in the 70's struggle with increasing government controls (Nixon's wage and price controls not the least of it). I learned a lot about the market distortions and unintended consequences of government involvement.

Regaining Opus' perspective

helpful after the last coupla days and posts...


A moment this morning with the pumpkin and rose patch.


"Perfecta" in perfect form...

God's green earth. Refreshment.